In a highly unusual snafu that resulted in a NO CONTEST declaration by the track stewards, race 5 on the opening-day Kentucky Downs card Monday was run with a field of 10 -- instead, unfortunately, with all 12 who had been intended.

The stewards chose to declare it "no contest," as opposed to declaring the two horses left behind the gate, MECHANICVILLE (6) and CATMAN (12), as non-starters.

Both first-timing 2-year-old maiden colts were waiting to be loaded for the one-mile maiden race at the turf-only track when the field was prematurely dispatched, much to the surprise of race-caller Michael Wrona and others. Mechanicville was 22-1 and Catman was 12-1 on the board.

Track spokesperson Jennie Rees said the error apparently was due to a gate malfunction and was not the fault of starter Scott Jordan.

Several other horses who had been loaded into the gate also appeared unprepared for the start or were still being held by an assistant starter, perhaps contributing to the stewards' decision to rule "no contest."

The race was won by the 3-2 favorite, ROYAL PRINCE (1), with the full order being 1-7-10-2, but after about a 15-minute inquiry, the announcement was made by Wrona that the stewards had called it "no contest." Full refunds were due on any wager involving the race.

More information will be available in due course on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website, khrc.ky.gov. Rees said shortly after the announcement of "no contest" was made that she intends to get a more detailed explanation from the KHRC chief steward, Barbara Borden, who was in the stewards' stand.

An hour or so after the incident, Kentucky Downs released the following information: "Owners of 12 horses in today's 5th to receive $5,000 from purse account; every jockey $500 after apparent gate malfunction forced race to be declared No Contest. Track working on opportunity for horses to run back at meet if connections choose."