Quote:
Originally Posted by Inner Dirt
Do you think stewards have different standards for what merits a DQ on a bullring compared to a mile track? Not me, but quite a few people I ran across at Pomona felt a lot of Francisco Mena's success was due to being able to get away with things they would not allow at SA,HOL and DMR. If I recall he won at double the rate at Pomona as anywhere else.
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I don't think it's a different standard. The CHRB rulebook is the same at every track. However, Stewards are very aware of the additional danger involved in negotiating very tight turns. Yes Paco Mena did win at a very high rate at Pomona. As did Black, Flores and certainly Pedroza. This was a combination of having special skills on the bullring. But IMO much more that the elite riders would steer clear of the dangers and maybe only ride a Stake or two. With no Shoemaker, Pincay, McCarron, Delahoussaye opportunities were much more available.
Interestingly having worked a couple meets a Fairplex. I found the incidents of dangerous riding were fairly rare. I think it was a result of them all knowing how dangerous the bullring races can be and looking out for each other. Also the fields were shorter. Mostly 6 to 8 horses. I think the limit was 10.
I'll never believe CA Stewards would favor one rider over another. I've NEVER seen any evidence of that. Perhaps the best example of that might be Russell Baze. Everyone respected and admired him. Other riders, trainers, racing officials. But he certainly received his fair share of suspensions.
