California Racing is dead to me. New whip rule final straw

[Andy Asaro]

--Jockey Mario Gutierrez was issued a warning for using his crop seven times while aboard Dylans Wild Cat in the fourth race on Oct. 2. Dylans Wild Cat won by half-a-length. It was a majority decision as steward Luis Jauregui voted for a $100 fine.

--Apprentice jockey Alexis Centeno was issued a waring for using his crop seven times while aboard Devils Dance in the seventh race on Oct. 2. Devils Dance finished second. Steward Luis Jauregui was a dissenting opinion on the ruling.

--Jockey Victor Espinoza was fined $100 for using his riding crop nine times while aboard Lady Noguez in the fifth race on Oct. 2. Lady Noguez finished second by a head. The horse won $7,600 by virtue of the second-place finish. The standard jockey payment would have been $760.

--Jockey Juan Hernandez was issued a warning for using his riding crop seven times while aboard Hot Pastrami during the seventh race on Oct. 3. Hot Pastrami finished seventh.

--Jockey Juan Hernandez was fined $100 for using his riding crop three times in succession without giving his mount, Big Barrel, a chance to respond. Big Barrel finished fourth, earning a purse of $1,760. The standard jockey payment would have been $176.

--Jockey Heriberto Figueroa was issued a warning for using his riding crop in the cocked position on the shoulder of Silver Summer in the sixth race on Oct. 3. It appeared as if the problem occurred when he was trying to transfer the crop from his right hand to the left. Silver Summer finished second.

--Jockey Heriberto Figueroa was fined $100 for using his riding crop nine times while aboard Bob and Jackie in the City of Hope Mile, the eighth race, on Oct. 3. Bob and Jackie finished third and earned $24,000. The standard jockey payment for that purse would have been $2,400.

--Apprentice jockey Alexis Centeno was suspended four days (Oct. 11, 12, 16 and 17) for his ride about Run Snappy in the seventh race on Oct. 3. The stewards believed that Run Snappy crossed over without sufficient clearance in the turn causing interference. Run Snappy won the race by 4 ¾ lengths. Centeno also received a careless riding suspension for a race on Aug. 7, so an extra day was added to what would normally be a three-day suspension.

[GMB@BP]

thought riders got 5% of non win shares?

[Andy Asaro]

According to one of my spies in high places.......

Jockeys/Guild has sent a communication to several regulators and the Governor asking to rescind the new whip rule. They made an intelligent/truthful argument on why it is bad for EVERYONE and why it should be rescinded.

Good for them because this rule could impact how it's handled in the rest of the country

[The_Turf_Monster]

Sure paying a lot of attention to a racing circuit that’s dead to you......

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

thought riders got 5% of non win shares?

By CHRB rule, 5% is the standard figure but apparently the fee is negotiable. In order for any other arrangement to be valid (and enforced by the stewards), a special contract has to be on file. I doubt this last part actually takes place.

Here's what the Thoroughbred Owner's of California (TOC) tells prospective owners about how these fees are handled:

An interesting note: It has somehow become customary for jockeys’ agents to bill owners an additional 5% – bringing their share up to 10% – for 2nd and 3rd place winners in races with purses of $10,000 and over (which includes most races in California, since this state offers the richest purses in the nation). According to jockeys’ agents, the majority of owners unquestionably pay this fee – but in fact, the payment is in no way mandated. Such a bill requires a written contract between the owner and the jockey/jockey’s agent – on file with the Paymaster of Purses – in order to be legitimate. Otherwise, the bill need not be honored. (Supposedly, if you don’t “pay up”, the jockey’s agent is apt to punish you by not providing his jockey the next time you have a promising mount).

I like the little threat at the end.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by Spalding No!

By CHRB rule, 5% is the standard figure but apparently the fee is negotiable. In order for any other arrangement to be valid (and enforced by the stewards), a special contract has to be on file. I doubt this last part actually takes place.

Here's what the Thoroughbred Owner's of California (TOC) tells prospective owners about how these fees are handled:

An interesting note: It has somehow become customary for jockeys’ agents to bill owners an additional 5% – bringing their share up to 10% – for 2nd and 3rd place winners in races with purses of $10,000 and over (which includes most races in California, since this state offers the richest purses in the nation). According to jockeys’ agents, the majority of owners unquestionably pay this fee – but in fact, the payment is in no way mandated. Such a bill requires a written contract between the owner and the jockey/jockey’s agent – on file with the Paymaster of Purses – in order to be legitimate. Otherwise, the bill need not be honored. (Supposedly, if you don’t “pay up”, the jockey’s agent is apt to punish you by not providing his jockey the next time you have a promising mount).

I like the little threat at the end.

I was told once it was 5% of non wins...unless you travel than its 10% of all winnings. Of course everything is negotiable.

[Andy Asaro]

The letter Jockeys wrote to Governor Newsome, the CHRB, and the TOC along with several other people will be up today on way or the other.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by airford1

Most would say you never did.
My bad did I say that?

Twitter

Attached Files

Letter from Mike Smith to CHRB Re Use of Riding Crop 10082020 (1).pdf (187.8 KB, 5 views)

[classhandicapper]

Just my unpopular opinion, but there is always going to be resistance to change. I think the riders are way better off focusing on their own safety and the safety of the horses than riding technique or where the horses finish. Every rider and horse is operating under the same rules. If some horses respond better to just hand riding, so be it. If some riders are better with the new technique so be it. If something is unsafe, that's a PROBLEM.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

Just my unpopular opinion, but there is always going to be resistance to change. I think the riders are way better off focusing on their own safety and the safety of the horses than riding technique or where the horses finish. Every rider and horse is operating under the same rules. If some horses respond better to just hand riding, so be it. If some riders are better with the new technique so be it. If something is unsafe, that's a PROBLEM.

They are just pinheads, idiots, con artists (the popular opinion of social media), so not sure their safety is much of a consideration.

[Andy Asaro]

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[Andy Asaro]

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[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

https://twitter.com/racetrackandy/st...11244561477633

1 hour in

[Andy Asaro]

Stewards’ rulings



--Jockey Brandon Boulanger was suspended for three days (Oct. 16, 17, 19) after his ride on August Indy in the seventh race on Oct. 4. The stewards said Boulanger violated four provisions of the new riding crop rule: 1) using it when a horse is clearly out of the race and has their maximum placing; 2) using the whip even though the horse wasn’t responding; 3) using more than two times in a row; 4) using more than six times in a race. August Indy finished seventh in the seven-horse race, 15 ½ lengths behind the sixth-place horse. Boulanger said he didn’t understand the new rule and apologized for the errors.

--Jockey Tiago Pereira was given a warning for his ride aboard Li’l Grazen in the fourth race on Oct. 12. He was called in to review the video on the race and it was not clear if he was hitting or flagging the horse. Li’l Grazen finished fourth in the four-horse race. It was a majority decision with steward Kim Sawyer voting for a fine.

--Jockey Edwin Maldonado was fined $100 for his ride aboard Principe Carlo in the fifth race on Oct. 9. The stewards determined Maldonado used the whip eight times, two more than is now allowable. Principe Car finished second by half-a-length. Maldonado did not attend the meeting and accepted his penalty.

--Jockey Jorge Velez was issued a warning and a $100 fine for his ride aboard Baby Gronk in the ninth race on Oct. 9. The warning was for using the riding crop three times without giving Baby Gronk a chance to respond. The fine was for using the whip 10 times, four more than allowable. Baby Gronk finished fifth in the race.

--Jockey Assael Espinoza was issued a warning for his ride aboard Mama’s Kid in the third race on Oct. 9. The stewards said Espinoza used his riding crop seven times in the stretch, one more than allowable during a race. Mama’s Kid won the race by a neck. It was a majority decision as steward Luis Jauregui voted for a fine.

--Exercise rider Larry J. Gary was suspended after he failed to show for a scheduled hearing with the stewards. The hearing was because of an incident on Aug. 13 at Del Mar where he allegedly refused to provide identification and caused a loud disturbance in the barn area.



--Jockey Jorge Velez was fined $200 for his ride aboard Chollima in the third race on Oct. 10. The stewards said he used his riding crop three times before allowing Chollima a chance to respond. This is one more strike than is allowed. Chollima finished fourth in the five-horse race. Velez took full responsibility and accepted the penalty. The fine was greater because it was Velez’s second violation in the last 60 days. (See ruling above.)

--Jockey Juan Hernandez was issued a warning for his ride aboard Big Mama Sue in the second race on Oct. 10. The stewards said Hernandez raised his left hand above his shoulder before striking the horse. Hernandez said he wasn’t sure what was too high. The stewards used the video to demonstrate. Big Mama Sue won the four-horse race by a head.

--Trainer Thomas Bell was fined $50 for not wearing a protective safety vest during morning training on Oct. 6. Bell took responsibility and said he forgot to put it on when he was distracted at the barn.

--Jockey Heriberto Figueroa was fined $200 for his ride aboard Lady On Ice in seventh race on Oct. 10. The stewards said Figueroa exceed the six-strike maximum by an unspecified amount. Figueroa said he miscounted and apologized. Lady On Ice finished third in the five-horse race. The fine was more because it was his second offense in the last 60 days.

--Jockey Umberto Rispoli was suspended three days (Oct. 23, 24, 25) for careless riding aboard Galilean in the seventh race on Oct. 11. The stewards said Galilean drifted in three paths causing a horse on the inside to steady approaching the sixteenth pole. Rispoli suggested the horse was lugging and he was trying to correct him. The stewards believed he did start the correction process until the inside horse was already steadied. There was a stewards’ inquiry but no change was made. Galilean won the race, the California Flag, by a head.

[Andy Asaro]

Matt Hegarty
@DRFHegarty
·1h

Panel of NY stewards tell NYGC that current rule limiting riders to five strikes before giving a horse to respond works well, and that they are satisfied with ability to use discretion to punish riders for misuse of the whip.

Riders speaking to NYGC stress that they believe the current NY rule works and that the new safety crops are designed well from a humane standpoint.

Jim Gagliano, COO of TJC, tells NYGC: “To me and the Jockey Club we see a future where hitting an animal with a stick will not be acceptable, certainly not for urging. We recognize that these are difficult things to change, and it’s going to take awhile.”