Sword Dancer: ? for the board

[BitPlayer]

The Paulick Report article on the subject includes the text of the DQ rule for uncoupled stablemates:

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/owner-stews-rabbits-actions-sword-dancer-files-appeal/

[BitPlayer]

From David Grening via Dan Illman\'s DRF blog:

\"The stewards did not issue any fines or suspensions to any of the parties involved. Braulio Baeza Jr. the steward for NYRA, said he did receive several complaints from other trainers who watched the race. The stewards said they called Gryder, Castellano and Brown in separately for interviews Sunday morning. Both Gryder and Castellano told the stewards that Flintshire clipped heels with Inordinate at the top of the stretch, causing Gryder to look back and then get out of the way to avoid being clipped again. The stewards said that Brown told them it was not the plan to have Flintshire come through on the rail.\"

http://www.drf.com/blogs/some-travers-day-reflections

[jerry]

This is bullshit. It wasn\'t just Gryder. Even Ortiz gave up his rail position to Flintshire and in doing so ran up on the heels of those now in front of him and had to check repeatedly. He still closed gamely.

At what point do we realize we\'re just a bunch of hopeless patsies? NYRA doesn\'t even bother with the appearance of due diligence. They\'re laughing at us.

[richiebee]

jerry Wrote:
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> At what point do we realize we\'re just a bunch of
> hopeless patsies? NYRA doesn\'t even bother with
> the appearance of due diligence. They\'re laughing
> at us.

Jerry what I suggest is that you, and others dissatisfied with NYRA, do the
following (it is not the first time I have suggested this):

Write a letter (email) to NYRA, attention Chris Kay, on Tuesday. The letter
should say that over the holiday weekend you wagered

• dollars (the more the

merrier) at [name tracks other than Saratoga]. Attach mutuel tickets or a report
from your ADW showing the dollars wagered. Go on to say that this is money you
would have wagered at Saratoga if it were not for [incompetent stewards]
[name your favorite gripe with NYRA]. Or say that you have opened a NYRA Bets
account, but will not fund it until changes are made or at least discussed.

You have to hit NYRA where it hurts. You have to explain with specificity why you
are hitting them. I am convinced this is the only way to get NYRA to pay
attention. I know that HANA has advocated \"buycotting\" certain tracks
(specifically, diverting handle to tracks with lower takeout). If NYRA sees
steadily decreasing handle, and gets lots of correspondence with the message I
have described above, I believe progress is possible.

I am sure that NYRA is aware of the groundswell of dissatisfaction with the
stewards\' failure to take any action with regards to the Sword Dancer
shenanigans, but until it hurts their bottom line I am fairly certain NYRA will
not address the problem.

[Bet Twice]

So Ortiz was part of the conspiracy too?  Give me a break.  Sometimes the best horse wins.

[jerry]

Conspiracy? Maybe. Maybe not. But watch the replay and explain to me why Ortiz, who is a smart rider, would surrender his position to Flintshire to no advantage to himself, having to check repeatedly afterwards while still having a ton of horse? Reread the race chart summary. I\'m not the only one who saw it that way.

[jerry]

Rich, I would if I thought Kay cared. I don\'t. He\'s a career upper level management butterfly and NYRA won\'t be his last flower.

[Bet Twice]

You implied Ortiz intentionally gave up the rail to benefit Flinthsire which would be the definition of conspiracy.  I see Ortiz stuck behind Gryder and try to swing out to go wide only to have another horse cutoff that option, causing him to steady.

[jerry]

While at the same time Flintshire nosed his way inside of him and Ortiz gave clearance. It all seemed a little accommodating for would be rivals. I didn\'t bet the race so it makes no difference to me.

[SoCalMan2]

TGJB Wrote:
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> I can tell you for a fact there\'s internal
> discussion at NYRA about the morning lines.


Looks like nothing good came from that internal discussion.  

This has got to be the only business in America where the purveyors hold their customers in such extreme disdain.  People think the airlines treat their customers badly.  That ain\'t nothing compared to how the NYRA treats its customers.  If the airlines were as bad as the NYRA, we would see all the airline CEOs lined up in front of congress tomorrow.  Unfortunately, nobody cares about horseracing (they just say then don\'t go).

If we customers weren\'t so addicted to the sport, it would go out of business so fast it would make everybody\'s head spin.