Top Flight Handicap

[Bally Ache]

Who saw this race.  There was a dq (a 23-1 shot who won convincingly).  I didn\'t have either horse, so I have no axe to grind. Apparently, the putative foul was around the eighth pole since that was where they kept rewinding.  I watched the replay from every angle, still didn\'t see a foul. First the inside horse came out a little, then the outside horse came in a little.  No contact at any time that I could see.  No impeding. No intimidation. Makes you wonder.

[ltg]

he struck the 3 in the face w/ the whip.

[colt]

Unlike the actors pretending to be stewards on the SoCal circuit...the NYRA zebras were able to utilize the video and come away with a gun-to-the-head decision....

[colt]

TGAB,

The TVG (DRF/NTRA) contest is on tap for Saturday...please put together a card for the ten-race contest...

Contest Race Schedule:

1. Aqueduct No. 5 - 2:20 pm
2. Aqueduct No. 6 - 2:49 pm
3. Aqueduct No. 7 - 3:19 pm
4. Churchill Downs No. 10 - 3:58 pm
5. Churchill Downs No. 11 - 4:27 pm
6. Churchill Downs No. 12 - 4:55 pm
7. Hollywood Park No, 5 - 5:32 pm
8. Hollywood Park No, 6 - 6:04 pm
9. Hollywood Park No, 7 - 6:35 pm
10. Hollywood Park No, 8 - 7:05 pm

[TGAB]

Alright. Look for sheets and track Ntr.

[Bally Ache]

Today\'s NYPost confirms what is said here.  Garcia struck the 3 horse with his whip.  Is this a mandatory dq in New York?  Rahy\'s Appeal was clearly the best horse.  And the people who bet her at 23-1 really got screwed.

If using rote judgment creates an unfair result, that\'s not a good thing.

[NoCarolinaTony]

From what I hear on the replay show, it is no longer an automatic DQ in NY.

I personally benefited from it, by keeping alive what turned out to be a lucrative P4, but it sort of feels tainted as the 8 was MTB.

NC Tony

[bobphilo]

I agree that in this case Rahy's Appeal would have beaten Malibu Mint in any case, but in general I don't particularly like letting the stewards decide just how many lengths a flagrant foul costs a horse. Like colt, I've seen too many appalling decisions like that in California. Particular.
A foul is a foul and the stewards job is to penalize them. I don't like the idea of letting a rider get away with it just because it looks like he was going to win anyway. What kind of deterrent is it if we let someone on a what looks like a winner flaunt the rules?
Those that bet RA have a right to be mad, but at Garcia for his careless riding, not the stewards.  

Bob

[jbelfior]

The horse was starting to lug in, so Garcia smacked her left-handed. Bad luck striking the well beaten MALIBU MINT.

Owners appealing the decision and rightfully so. If this is not an automatic DQ in NY, did the stewards actually believe this cost MM the race??



Good Luck,
Joe B.  

[miff]

Joe B,

I always thought that a whip strike was an automatic disqualification in New York.I called the NY State Steward for clarification of the whip rule many times on Saturday but no one was answering(wonder why)

If a whip strike is NOT an automatic takedown,then the DQ of Rahys Appeal is a gross injustice. More importantly, if the stewards felt that the whip strike actually caused Malibu Mint the race,then they should be dismissed for being incompetent.


Mike

[jbelfior]

Miff:

NC Tony mentioned that the replay show indicated it was no longer an automatic DQ in NY.

If the people on the show are correct, than you are right; the stewards need to be replaced.



Good Luck,
Joe B.

[bobphilo]

So what I'm hearing is that jockeys should be allowed be foul freely or ride carelessly as long, just for insurence, as long as it appears like they're going to win the race. Apparently the rules meant to protect both horses and riders don't matter if they're violated by a likely winner.

When a rider carelessly swings away and raps the horse next to him in the face he must be penalized, win or lose. To leave him up is to encourage jockeys that look like they're going to win to foul away just to make sure.

This notion that a foul has to affect the outcome of a race just gives cowardly stewards another excuse to wimp out.

Bob

[miff]

Hi Bob,

Agree, but penalize the jockey, not the owners and bettors by taking down a clear cut winner.If the written rule calls for automatic DQ, then the stewards are correct, if not, they should called on the carpet for an amateurish discretionary decision.



Mike

[Michael D.]

if jocks with the best horse are allowed to get away with infractions, forget it, the game turns into chaos.

[davidrex]

Until someone comes up with THE definitive rule,Donald Trump isn\'t going to fire anyone.