Gulfstream Race 6 Feb 4th
 

Stephens Gold popped the gate before the start and was up the track, never a factor. I was wondering what action should or could have been taken if he was a front runner and for arguments sake got a brief head start and held on to win by a nose.

I'm glad you brought this up.

I believe he should have been declared a non-starter ( I wasn't involved financially ). He clearly broke the gate before the start. I don't know the rules in Florida.....but from what I've seen neither do the stewards.

I wonder if the favorite would have done the same thing if they wouldn't have declared him a non-starter. During the Saratoga meet someone was talking about all the declared non-starters and how great it was so the fans don't have to swallow a bitter pill By losing on a favorite that was basically declared a non-starter after he didn't hit the board. Not saying that they shouldn't haev been declared non-starters.

What I am saying is that they don't seem to be looking at the long shots unless they win and they have an oppurtunity to take one down

Agreed.. I bet the horse at 20-1+ and saw his nose come through well before the latches sprung and wondered why there was not even an inquiry.

I was financially involved in a small way and I thought he could possibly be declared a non-starter. Of course if the shoe was on the other foot and he won and was indeed declared a non-starter I'd probably complain and then accept the fact I'd found another way to get beat. Thanks for the response and the commentary on the stewards.

I was at GP yesterday and was at the gate, should have been declared a non-starter. The assistant starter tried to hold him back but couldn't.

It's interesting how much random criticism NYRA gets, yet if this happened in NY the horse would have been declared a non-starter. I've seen it happen.

In Florida, the interpretation of the rules by the stewards has always been suspect, at least in my experience, and it has also been tainted by personal animosity.