Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom
Inexcusable.
Period.
And why re-assign the stooge of a steward to another track - why not fire him?
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Given the situation (DARK across the track with no lights) I think you should cut the responsible parties a bit of slack.
Each Fall Woodbine puts on a series of grade one international grass races that regularly attracts many a good turfer as an alternative to the Breeder's Cup turf races. They usually run right around the first week in October when the days are getting shorter rapidly, and I used to HOPE that there was enough ambient light so that we would not be embarrassed internationally by not being able to show an underexposed photo as they would card these big races later in the card. About 2 to 3 years back, I was JUST ABLE to get a photo for one of these earlier contests and my light meter was telling me that without lights I would NOT be able to take the shot of the BIG international coming up should we need a shot to differentiate the placings. I even went downstairs to inform them of the same as I had in the past when that situation was a possibility.
As the field came into the long stretch there, and I swear this happened, what cloud cover there was all of a sudden opened up, the meter went into normal exposure range, and I got the shot.....There was no need to show a photo as all the placings were obvious, but WE WERE LUCKY that day.
I repeatedly told the stewards of this problem and they knew of one example (much like the photo posted about this race at Saratoga) that we had to post that was of a horrible grainy quality...Luckily I did not have to embarrass the racing organization that day, but sweated about it nonetheless.