Claims and Scratches

[BillW]

It dawned on me this morning that I do not know how a scratch affects a claim. Does it nullify a claim? or does it have no affect what so ever? or something in between?

Thanks,

Bill

[so.cal.fan]

The claim is only good when they leave the starting gate.
If they scratch....they are a non runner.
At least that is the law in California.

[BillW]

Thanks so.cal.fan.

How about a non-starter (dwelt in the gate and
deemed a non-starter by stewards )

I guess by being a "non-starter", they didn't leave the gate for the purposes of the claim.
Thinking about it further, I guess this is possibly the main reason why a horse would be declared a non-starter.

All comments on my thoughts welcome.

Bill

[smf]

Bill,

Depends on the state's regs when the claim is a done deal. In Tx, La when the horse leaves the paddock, the horse's claim is official. They do this, I'm told, to prevent a 'Brunetti situation'. Trainer gets wind of the claim before the race and has his horse scratch out prior to loading.

Track Boss comes to mind at FG. He flipped in the gate on opening day and was scratched. Kelly Broussard had a claim slip (from Pino) and ran him back 13 days later and won @ $28.

So Cal fan's explanation is correct in most states. TX, LA are the only 2 states I know of where once you leave the paddock, you lose the horse.