Quote:
Originally Posted by classhandicapper
Now that we've heard from NYRA, IMO, horizontal players should be less concerned about what happened and more concerned about what changes are going to implemented so horseplayers can be confident they aren't trying to overcome disadvantages that exceed just the track take.
Going forward
Are they going to have the technical ability to cancel the wager entirely, refund the money, and the power to do so?
Are they going to modify the rules so they can deal with situations like this adequately and then follow them?
Are they going to have permission to delay the race and give players more time to cancel and adjust their bets?
Other?
They did a good job explaining what happened and taking responsibility, but what happens next has to be communicated and implemented.
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Excellent questions and excellent points.
David O'Rourke demonstrated what leadership looks like during his Talking Horses preview show with Andy. Rather than passing the buck, pointing the finger, or chastising individuals, David concluded that it was not worth going through the minute-by-minute timeline and decision making as it would allow others to question the jockeys, the stewards, the NYRA staff, the wagering infrastructure and who knows what else.
Instead, he sat in the limelight, took the arrows, and said the key words : "The buck stops with me." Period. I, for one, sincerely believe him and believe that he has heard the community's concerns.
One also must acknowledge how well Andy handled what must have been a very difficult interview under immense pressure. He collegially handled the discussion, used terms that conveyed the temperature in the room (people are "pissed off"), and gave David the chance to honestly state the case. Not bad for a trained mathematician/statistician.
