Churchill makes up the rules as they go....

[MO]

How did you all like the stunt the stewards pulled regarding the early scratch of Buddha? The rules have always been when a horse scratches, the horses outside of the scratched horse move in one stall to the left. Not on Derby Day. They moved all the horses from the rail OUT one slot to the right. (I don\'t think it affected Came Home\'s performance, but in a fairly run race, he should have started from the main gate).

Came Home can\'t get a mile and a quarter.


MO

[TGJB]

I also don\'t think it affected anyone\'s performance, but you are right- that was unbelievable.

[tony g]

One thing to consider, when there is an auxiliary gate in the quarter mile chute, the inside 2 or 3 posts start inside the rail on the main track, so the jocks in the 1-2 & maybe 3 hole have to either gun to the lead and angle out or take way back and angle out. By moving the inside horses out one gate, they make the start a little less rodeo like.

[MO]

B.S.!!! If they want to avoid a rodeo, limit the field to 14 starters, limited to graded stakes earnings. When you change the rules on a whim, its bad for the image of the game.
MO