Another Head Scratcher in SA 8

[Molesap]

Did not matter for me, but how can the stewards determine that the #4 Desert Law did not have his placing affected when he had the check as the #7 Aristocratic came in on him ON THE TURN. They announced that he did check when the #7 came in, but it did affect the order of finish. Two horses that he just passed finished in front of him - how can they make that assertion? They can tell that he lost only two lengths of momentum and not four for five?

[shanahan]

don\'t waster your energy on CA stewards.  They suck and are terrible.  But consistent...

[Topcat]

shanahan Wrote:
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> don\'t waster your energy on CA stewards.  They
> suck and are terrible.  But consistent...



AKA: \"Some horsemen are more equal than others\"

[BitPlayer]

I did not see this race live, but after looking at the replay, I\'d say that the stewards\' decision is what I would have guessed.  Fouls around the turn seem like they are less likely to be penalized, and the cost-a-placing rule usually requires a closer finish than occurred here.

Your post caused me to think back on a thread that TGJB started a few months ago:

https://www.thorograph.com/phorum/read.php?1,110012,110012#msg-110012

In my mind, the cost-a-placing rule as currently enforced makes little sense. I think most people who post here enjoy the intellectual challenge of the game, and it\'s frustrating when you make what appears to be a winning bet, only to have your horse taken down because of a foul that did not affect your horse\'s placing.

I like the international rule that your horse gets taken down only when the foul enabled it to beat the fouled horse.  When the foul causes the victim to lose a placing, that should be dealt with via purse money, and, rather then moving other horses up, purse money should be redistributed directly from the perpetrator to the victim.  A draconian approach would be to have the horses swap purse money.  A less severe approach (but one requiring more judgment on the part of the stewards) would be to have the perpetrator compensate the victim for purse money lost as a result of the foul.