NYRA gate crew
 

They are the best arent they?

They lead the country in both gate scratches and non starters. Its an epidemic there. You dont here one thing from management even acknowledge they have to improve on it. If I was management I would not be happy to refund all the money they have to day after day after day.

If I sound bitter I am after todays latest.

What exactly happened with Rumspringa?

Well it's definitely the impression you want to leave with patrons who are at the races for the first time. Let's show them how the gate crew works with their overboard chants of no and piss poor composure for a profession where it's a requirement. Let's also show these new patrons that we'll scratch the horse but won't refund any other wagers even though the scratched horse interfered with one of the front runners.

That ought to sell the new patrons and convince them to come back.

The Gate Crew guy held a hold of him as the gate opened, tossed the jock, and she caused havoc down the stretch.

Maybe just a major coincidence but it was the number 9 horse at belmont a month or so ago this happened at belmont.......and even more coincidence it was a contessa horse too.

I gather that some of you think the NYRA gate crew are the worst, obviously you haven't watched enough races from minor tracks. I was at Canterbury last year when one of the crew also had ahold of the horse when the gate opened. In this case, he must have been entwined pretty good in the horse's bridle because when the gate opened it wasn't only the horse and rider that came flying out, but the guy with the gate crew came out as well and fell down to the track in front of the horse. Luckily the jock grabbed hold of the horse immediately. Very lucky that the guy wasn't trampled. The rest of the story was that it was the horse's first start on the turf. He was a fairly decent price and I had a nice win bet on him. He was declared a non starter so I got a refund. Of course he came back a week or so later in another turf race and somehow I missed the entry. Naturally he won. Don't remember what he paid, but I think it was somewhere between $10-$20

I don't think NYRA is the worst, but it does happen a bit there.

I do watch the lower level tracks, probably more then I watch NYRA tracks.

Do you know how many times Penn National has cancelled due to Gate Crew issues?

It just is a pain for everyone when it happens, at Saratoga or at Wyoming or anywhere.

I'm not trying to defend the gate crew, but late scratches and gate scratches are often different things. I realize what caused today's scratch, but let's remember that "late scratches" often occur because a horse acts up in the post parade (no fault of the gate crew) or is scratched by the vet/jockey due to an insufficient warm up. I hear people complain about these sort of scratches all the time; personally, I'd rather have the horse scratched than run a horse of questionable soundness.

With today's event....I totally agree! Enough with the "screams' as they go into the gate. These guys are getting all to common with events like this.

Question, Levine entered a claim for Rumspringa. He was declared a non starter. What Happens? and Why?

Levine celebrates by doing 5 keg stands in a row.

Oh so Levine is stuck with him now. Well in that case...

Basement, chair, noose.

I think Winning move stables (the owners before the race) are getting screwed. I guess that they didn't mind losing the horse, because that had a good shot of making some purse money. Then they lose him and have absolutely no chance at any purse money. That doesn't seem fair. Isn't being a non starter essentially the same thing as not being in the race. If he was scratched at the gate he would not be able to be claimed, right? The argument would have been the same thing on the other side if (God Forbid) he broke down during the race. How could you claim a horse that is declared a non-starter. You would think that NYRA would have a clear cut rule for this sort of thing.

Levine's KEGGER probably had to wait for the 16 Rolaids he must have popped during the running of that race. Let's just say that there were a few anxious moments.

So the rule is there to protect the bettors. I guess this type of situation has not come up that often, where the jock falls off the horse because of a gate mishap. Maybe they could amend the rule, for a freak occurrence like this one. I understand that the owners still had the chance to get some purse money, but because of the starter Ramon fell off. Then they lose the horse. Still seems unfair.

Here is the rule, from the NYS Racing and Wagering Board website:

THOROUGHBRED

Sections 4009.21 and 4115.10 of Title 9E NYCRR are amended to read as follows:

4009.21 Refund -- non-starter.

(a) When a horse starts. Every horse shall be considered a starter when the stall gates open on the signal of the starter, unless the stewards declare a horse or horses non-starters because, in their opinion, the horses’ chances were compromised leaving the starting gate. If so, all bets on the non-starters will be refunded unless the horse wins. For placing and program purposes, the non-starters will be considered to have run for purse only.

(b) If it be determined by the stewards that a horse is declared a non-starter, the money bet on the horse shall be refunded; if such horse is part of an entry or field, such circumstances shall be treated as a scratch for wagering as provided in section 4009.20 of this Part, notwithstanding the placing of any remaining part of the entry or field.

Contessa is appealing the claim. Who do you guys think should get the horse? I believe that Contessa should keep the horse, for reasons listed in other posts in the thread. But I have a bad feeling that the claim will stand and he will be Levine's.

I think the claim should be voided...