Blasi fined...

[declansharbor]

for bringing the wrong horse into the paddock??? How could such a mistake happen..IF the stewards knew it was the wrong horse, how could the trainer not?? Esp. after he just claimed the horse for somone OCT. 8th..Any thoughts?

[ELA]

Maybe it's just me, however I don't see this as a big deal. Simple mistake. The stewards, horse identifier, or whoever checks lip tatoos, markings, etc. if I am not mistaken. There is a series of checks and balances for this. While it's not a very common mistake, you are talking about an operation that about 2000 horses a year in probably about 20 different venues.

Eric

[Buffymommy]

AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG:

But isn't the groom the one who really gets the horse and brings it out to the paddock area to be saddled? I swear most of the trainers don't see the horse until it gets to the paddock to be saddled. Now I know in the big races the trainer walks with the horse over to the paddock, but this was a $23,000 claimer and not a million dollar stakes race.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG:

But isn't the groom the one who really gets the horse and brings it out to the paddock area to be saddled? I swear most of the trainers don't see the horse until it gets to the paddock to be saddled. Now I know in the big races the trainer walks with the horse over to the paddock, but this was a $23,000 claimer and not a million dollar stakes race.

Yes, that is true. In some cases, the trainer may not go to the barn. He may just be waiting at the paddocak for the horse to arrive. In most cases, the trainer would probably at least stop by the barn a couple of hours earlier.

In this particular case with Blasi, we don't even know if he was in town when this happened. They probably have horses running in 6 different states. Blasi can only be in one state at a time. Since he is the listed trainer, he is the one responsible, but chances are he wasn't even there. Assuming he wasn't there, it is the fault of his assistant trainer at that particular track.

[KY_Sasquash]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Yes, that is true. In some cases, the trainer may not go to the barn. He may just be waiting at the paddocak for the horse to arrive. In most cases, the trainer would probably at least stop by the barn a couple of hours earlier.

In this particular case with Blasi, we don't even know if he was in town when this happened. They probably have horses running in 6 different states. Blasi can only be in one state at a time. Since he is the listed trainer, he is the one responsible, but chances are he wasn't even there. Assuming he wasn't there, it is the fault of his assistant trainer at that particular track.

I bet a pick 4 this day at Churchill and I remember this happening and wondered why the horse was scratched. On the live simulcast feed via BRIS it sure looked like him standing in the stall in the paddock. I couldnt figure out why the horse was scratched and then I heard about it and put it together. Total BS and I wonder how many times theyve pulled it off prior. There's no excuse for the wrong horse being brought to the paddock-especially when they look at the horse everyday. The guy is sharp, I think he'd recognize if it were a different horse.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by KY_Sasquash

I bet a pick 4 this day at Churchill and I remember this happening and wondered why the horse was scratched. On the live simulcast feed via BRIS it sure looked like him standing in the stall in the paddock. I couldnt figure out why the horse was scratched and then I heard about it and put it together. Total BS and I wonder how many times theyve pulled it off prior. There's no excuse for the wrong horse being brought to the paddock-especially when they look at the horse everyday. The guy is sharp, I think he'd recognize if it were a different horse.

I doubt "they've ever "pulled it off prior". There is a "horse indentifier" who stands at the entrance to the receiving barn. He checks every horse before they are allowed to enter the receiving barn. He checks their tatoo idenitification number which is under their lip. There is pretty much no way to run the wrong horse. The horse identifier will catch it.

[ELA]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG:

But isn't the groom the one who really gets the horse and brings it out to the paddock area to be saddled? I swear most of the trainers don't see the horse until it gets to the paddock to be saddled. Now I know in the big races the trainer walks with the horse over to the paddock, but this was a $23,000 claimer and not a million dollar stakes race.

Yes. For the most part it's the groom. Sometimes I've seen an assistant walk over as well, but I would say most often the groom.

Eric

[Buffymommy]

Oh I understand that it is the trainer's responsibility. I am not saying that he should not be fined. Just stating that it could have been a new groom that doesn't know the horses that well and grabbed the wrong one, etc...

It could have been a numerous amount of things. We shouldn't judge the trainer on a simple mistake. I don't think he was doing it to run the wrong horse if that is what this thread was asking. I just think it was a mistake.

[Bystander]

Honest mistake or not, it's pretty shabby management. What's interesting to me is that when this was first reported, it was stated that the horse in question was the current favorite, and that the "wrong" horse was an unraced filly without a lip tattoo.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by ELA

Maybe it's just me, however I don't see this as a big deal. Simple mistake. The stewards, horse identifier, or whoever checks lip tatoos, markings, etc. if I am not mistaken. There is a series of checks and balances for this. While it's not a very common mistake, you are talking about an operation that about 2000 horses a year in probably about 20 different venues.

Eric

Too many " honest " mistakes in this game if you ask me and frankly considering the situation surrounding that particaluar outfit I believe they've worn out their " benefit of the doubt ".

[The Bid]

Noway the wrong horse should EVER be brought over. I understand its an honest mistake, but theres just no excuse for it.