Kentucky Stewards to investigate hokey ride - Castanon

[cj]

Since this is horse racing, the question has to be asked...will we ever actually here the outcome of this investigation?

[Jeff P]

A similar event happened at Turf Paradise on one of my very first afternoons at a track.

A 7/5 favorite came away from the gate slowly in a one turn sprint race - and looked to be under considerable restraint while taken unnecessarily wide on the turn.

The horse was then allowed to run a bit from mid turn and actually reached contention in the upper stretch - before the rider grabbed him again.

Of course at the time - watching the race live through my binoculars - I was too new and too green to pick up on any of this.

But after watching untold tens of 1000's of races in the years since - I sometimes look back at that race and wonder...

My buddy John - who I sometimes thank (and just as often blame) for introducing me to this sport - was livid.

He told me (and everyone else around who would listen) in no uncertain terms there was going to be "an investigation."

"But John," I said. The numbers on the tote board aren't flashing. It doesn't look like there's an inquiry--"

"No you idiot!" he snapped, cutting me off. "I said an INVESTIGATION! That's different than an inquiry!"

After the race was made official - and after he made a deliberate ceremony of tearing his tickets into tiny pieces of confetti which he then tossed high in the air...

We went inside, stood underneath a TV hanging from a beam in the cieling, and caught the replay. "There," he said. "Do you see it?"

"See what?" I asked.

"The horse hopped in the air a bit at the start. But that's still no excuse for taking the horse eight f-ing wide on the turn."

Yeah?" I asked.

Yeah," he said. "Oh MAN!" he continued. "Standing up like that for no reason in mid stretch. HOLY SHIT that was bad. The stewards aren't going to have a choice. They're definitely going to have to conduct a full on investigation."

After the replay he settled down a bit... And then proceeded to explain to me the difference between an investigation and an inquiry.

"You'll see," he said matter of factly towards the end of his explanation. "They're going to set him down for a couple of weeks and fine him a couple of hundred. The way he rode that horse he really didn't leave them any other choice."

I often look back at that and smile. You see it was part of my introduction to racing.

For a few months after I actually made an effort to look at the stewards notes that were published in the form. But I never did find anything written about that race.

If I recall correctly that afternoon was in November of 1981.

And I'm still waiting for the results of that investigation.



-jp

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[EMD4ME]

Well written, nice story JP.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by cj

Jocks always get the benefit of the doubt.

As they should because they're the only ones involved in this discussion who could come home in a wheelchair.

[Donttellmeshowme]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

As they should because they're the only ones involved in this discussion who could come home in a wheelchair.

Yep and they the only ones who know what the feel underneath the horse, yet everyone judeges the jock on the ride of the horse. I think the jock and trainer have teamed up for around 100 wins during there careeer i hope he just didnt decide to stiff the horse but im leaning towards the horse wasnt right at all. If the horse was right why the drop to 5K?

[cj]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

As they should because they're the only ones involved in this discussion who could come home in a wheelchair.

I've never said differently. But benefit of the doubt does not equal free pass.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Donttellmeshowme

If the horse was right why the drop to 5K?

If only the game were that easy.

[chadk66]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

As they should because they're the only ones involved in this discussion who could come home in a wheelchair.

It would be very hard to top this sentence right here

[kevb]

Just for comparison, check out this race from Australia, Tuncirry 16 July 2016.
The rider of Like My Brother was fined by the stewards for not riding his horse out to the finish.
"Like My Brother- S. Lisnyy was fined $200 (AR 137 (b)) for failing to ride the gelding out to the end of the race when still in contention for fourth place."

http://bit.ly/2av5Rtc

[EMD4ME]

Originally Posted by kevb

Just for comparison, check out this race from Australia, Tuncirry 16 July 2016.
The rider of Like My Brother was fined by the stewards for not riding his horse out to the finish.
"Like My Brother- S. Lisnyy was fined $200 (AR 137 (b)) for failing to ride the gelding out to the end of the race when still in contention for fourth place."

http://bit.ly/2av5Rtc

God, I wish those stewards worked here. The entire NYRA jockey colony would be fined in 2 racing days.

Junior Alvarado would be serving 1000 days worth of suspensions.

[Jeff P]

Two thoughts expressed in this thread are "Nothing to see here." and "I've seen worse."

Would anyone care to watch the replay of Louisiana Downs R6 today - Fri 07-29-2016?...

I'd be specifically interested in any thoughts other players might have about the ride given to the runner up (#6.)



-jp

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[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

Two thoughts expressed in this thread are "Nothing to see here." and "I've seen worse."

Would anyone care to watch the replay of Louisiana Downs R6 today - Fri 07-29-2016?...

I'd be specifically interested in any thoughts other players might have about the ride given to the runner up (#6.)



-jp

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Just started a thread about it. I can't imagine someone could justify this effort but I've been surprised before