While I would like to think most of what has been posted will be the result, I don't think there is any way for these guys to be consistant, at all. Therefore, the explainations wouldn't appease anyone.

Take this race for example:

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart...052308USA3.pdf

If you have the ability to watch the replay, please do so. I did not bet the race. The way I saw it was that there was no way the winner should've been taken down. So, no matter what, whatever explaination they could muster, would not help.

1) As they straighten away, I felt the odds-on favorite drifted out a few paths to begin with.

2) The longest shot on the board won, the 3-5 favorite, trained by leading trainer Levine, finished second and was put up. The obvious thought is FIX (not me personally, but public perception).

3) The winner was just about clear and came in no more than the 2nd place finisher came out in the first place.

4) Nice act by Castro.

5) The winner was better.

6) If this was a Stakes race and not a 5K claimer, there is no way the horse comes down.

Now, nothing the stewards come up with to "explain" this would satisfy me, nevermind the people shafted out of a $40 winner.

A couple of years ago a female cyclist was killed on 5th avenue in Brooklyn. She was riding in the bike lane when someone in a parked vehicle opened his door causing her to swerve outwardly in order to avoid the impact and resulting in her getting crushed under the wheels of a truck. I remember reading that the person opening the door claimed to not have seen the cyclist. There was no mention of whether he was asked if he had looked because, clearly, if he had looked, he'd have seen her and not opened his door.

So, I don't really want to hear what jockeys have to say, for the most part, as they would be say just about anything to cover their asses. The tape doesn't lie.

Nothing personal with any of them.

take a 1000 pound animal running 38 mph and turn left and see where they go.

Thanks for the insight.

You ride a bike and no nothing about turning?

Do you ever think a horse that has been exerting
its muscles to the extreme might have difficulty taking
a clean turn? Do you know that turning requires accelerating
because the animal is changing directions? That requires
more effort. And if they are already tired what happens?
Little problem with inertia becomes a big problem when
large animals are tired.

Good God.

anytime

I'm late to the game here but I agree with one thing that has been posted multiple times. The stewards should give a written explanation of DQ's or non DQ's. They should be posted to the tracks website the next day and be available for any on track patron the next day.

They should give the track announcer a statement to read which explains their decision for making a change in the order of finish or deciding to let the the result of the race stand.

id like a clear explaination and decision based on the rules, along with their interpretation of the infraction along with the rules in California

I agree with this approach...

Vic,

The 2nd at Belmont today is a prime example. Jock wanted to object, but no outrider to lodge it with, race was made official very quickly, before he got back to call the stewards, so nothing allowed.

The stewards should have at least looked at it, or at very least, explained why they wouldn't allow the objection to be lodged (especially since the outrider that was supposed to be there, wasn't in the 1st turn, to note that a jock wanted to object.. which is something that Jerry Bailey caught right away and noted on tv).

John