Nick Kling from the Troy Record, adds his opine on having a judge in the booth to protect the horseplayers interest. We have spoken about that before and I could not agree more. In what business does the employee, or the government, or whomever, trump the customer?Only racing, that’s where. An excerpt:
Members of the NHC Tour and the Handicappers Coalition would be the ideal constituent group to select a players’ steward. As this group develops it should become the closest thing we have to a horseplayers' guild in America.
Thoroughbred racing needs a steward who would care about protecting bettors. A horse
players’ steward could gather information about new geldings, significant equipment changes like bar shoes, blinkers, and aluminum pads. He or she should have the authority to recommend to the State Steward that penalties be applied to horsemen who fail to provide required betting information.
Make no mistake. This is not a change which is likely to happen soon. The creation of such a position will only come, if ever, when racing officials finally understand that if their customers are not given more protection, racetracks will have no customers.
Equidaily pointed out a blogger who went to a Sports Illustrated website and found some gems. The site is an archive of Sports Illustrated covers, pictures and stories. I spent quite awhile on searching for some harness racing. Poke around if you are interested. A couple of the harness racing covers are classic.
Quick Notes: How about this picture of Southwind Tempo? Is that striding out or what? No blinkers, nuttin’ either. That is one class mare.
Have you seen a horse win a stakes final off a tougher trip than Artist View did Saturday at the Meadowlands lately? He might not be a world-beater, but he is tough as nails.
It seems the Somebeach sale is off.
We made our part-owned horse eligible to the Youthful Series this week at Woodbine. Why do horse owners get excited about this stuff? It is a small series, for maybe a $70,000 final. It is not exactly the Jug. Yet I am waiting to see the draw tomorrow and am looking forward to being a part of it.
Aspiring Horseplayer has his thoughts up on the World Cup this week, and Curlin. Gosh that is a nice blog. He does a great job.
Phil posts a link to the Belmont, in homage to the retirement of a wonderful filly.
Cangamble adds some local flavour, with thoughts on the Ontario Horse Improvement Program.
Lastly, this is a beautiful horse (click for video). His name is Big Brown and John Pricci has a story up on him The photo above is him, playing with a ball, obviously unaware that he kicks some serious ass.
3 comments:
I am a huge believer in protecting the public at all cost. I know one of the big reasons why I stop betting harness and going to thoroughbreds was because I felt my money was better protected when it came to judging and decsion making. It is not that I think that harness racing judges are not trying to protect the public but more because of the rules they have to govern. Standardbred judges do not typically judge but more referee because things are set out for them in black and white, interference is interference for example.
Take a look at this replay.
66.209.93.118/Replays2007/200709221544BED6.wmv
There was quite an argument for days after if the horse should of come down or not.
The NY State wagering board made some changes just weeks before this incident. They started letting the judges rule based on what would of happen.
In this case the best horse won and let the race stand. However, Desormeaux received a huge fine and seven days.
The public was protected because the best horse won the race, and Desormeaux was penalized for his blantant foul.
PP
Awesome note PP.
That is exactly how I feel. The chincy touch fouls in harness racing are ridiculous. I let fly on that awhile back in this post:
http://pullthepocket.blogspot.com/2008/01/uniform-rules-yah-right.html
Nothing annoys bettors more than seeing some driver pinch a touch foul on another guy who would have been nowhere anyway, get taken down.
I remember a few years ago at the Meadowlands. Pierce was driving a wonky horse. He was leading by about 6 lenghts, then he broke. Gingras and a couple other drivers who were miles behind, snatched up their horses. Pierce got right back onstride, won by several. Then he was taken down. I was flabbergasted. He was by far the best horse, the overreaction of the other drivers caused their own interference, yet the public gets the shaft who bet the best horse.
The NYRA way, and that video explains how it should be done. If a rider/driver causes interference, have them pay a fine double what his purse check would be, but if it did no affect the outcome of the race, then leave him up. That horse he interfered with would have came 6th if he was interfered with or not.
Anyhow, thanks for that link.
PTP
Thanks for the props again! You're no slouch yourself, my friend. :)
I agree that it would be incredible to have a steward to protect bettors. It's unthinkable to me that such equipment information as mud caulks is not made known to the public. Of course, in Maryland where I play locally, a lot of the workouts are unofficial and not listed. It's just mind boggling.
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