Jockey shenanigans mar BC prep races

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by jms62

You are right 7 days is ridiculous for not putting forth an effort to have his horse win the race and defrauding the betting public. Not to mention tactics that could have turned in to Mike Smith using a power chair for the rest of his life. I say 30 days minimum.

The horse who was a path wider than he was won so who is to say that his tactics caused the horse to not win? Or perhaps long shots should just do their best to stay out of the big bad favorite way?

What tactics would you suggest that he should have taken that would have given his mount the best chance to win? The DRF isnt a script. Riders change tactics without notice all the time. Saying that he shouldnt have gone 4 wide in the first turn isnt an implication that he wasnt trying because the horse got beat 20 lengths. He might have gotten beaten 20 lengths regardless of what he did. Do we really want stewards basing decisions based on their preconceived notions of what should happen based on their handicapping of the race?

Every racing day at Parx horses are put into this exact same position by riders looking to get off of a dead rail. Even with less skilled riders and far less talented horses no one is getting put in power chairs.

Someone was complaining about integrity issues on social media concerning this ride and suspension. IMO the integrity problem is when big name horses, 2/5 shots, pretty horse people and bloggers start to affect the decision making process of the stewards which in some jurisdictions is pretty shaky already.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The horse who was a path wider than he was won so who is to say that his tactics caused the horse to not win? Or perhaps long shots should just do their best to stay out of the big bad favorite way?

What tactics would you suggest that he should have taken that would have given his mount the best chance to win? The DRF isnt a script. Riders change tactics without notice all the time. Saying that he shouldnt have gone 4 wide in the first turn isnt an implication that he wasnt trying because the horse got beat 20 lengths. He might have gotten beaten 20 lengths regardless of what he did. Do we really want stewards basing decisions based on their preconceived notions of what should happen based on their handicapping of the race?

Every racing day at Parx horses are put into this exact same position by riders looking to get off of a dead rail. Even with less skilled riders and far less talented horses no one is getting put in power chairs.

Someone was complaining about integrity issues on social media concerning this ride and suspension. IMO the integrity problem is when big name horses, 2/5 shots, pretty horse people and bloggers start to affect the decision making process of the stewards which in some jurisdictions is pretty shaky already.

He eased the horse after Shared Belief got past him. Did we hear anything about his horse coming away with any kind of injury to warrant such? If that doesn't scream that his sole purpose was to agitate and try and get Shared Belief beat nothing does. Those in the game that keep defending such nonsense shouldn't be surprised when bettors eventually say WTF already(this is not a stab at you), its hard enough handicapping horses and now I got to handicap whether or not the jockey is going to give me an honest effort. It failed the smell test to me. Now to give full disclosure here my only exposure to this was using the horse in BCQualify to try and make up a 25 buck deficit. Why they would use a race with a 3/5 undefeated horse as the last in the contest is another issue but since I'm whining I might as well mention it even though it is completely off topic.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by jms62

He eased the horse after Shared Belief got past him. Did we hear anything about his horse coming away with any kind of injury to warrant such? If that doesn't scream that his sole purpose was to agitate and try and get Shared Belief beat nothing does. Those in the game that keep defending such nonsense shouldn't be surprised when bettors eventually say WTF already(this is not a stab at you), its hard enough handicapping horses and now I got to handicap whether or not the jockey is going to give me an honest effort. It failed the smell test to me. Now to give full disclosure here my only exposure to this was using the horse in BCQualify to try and make up a 25 buck deficit. Why they would use a race with a 3/5 undefeated horse as the last in the contest is another issue but since I'm whining I might as well mention it even though it is completely off topic.

The horse was finished before the final turn. I doubt that being in the 3 path would have made 3/8ths of a mile difference.

Lets have an honest discussion here. In 80% of the races run in this country you have to consider what the jockeys effort level is going to be for certain horses. Longshots are often ridden with less than maximum effort. Dropdowns are often "carefully handled". Why do people think bug riders strting out get so many chances? They will let them run because often they dont know any better.

Do i think that it was a coincidence that Espinoza did what he did? No. But can we really start suspending people based on speculation? Because pushing a horse out an extra path or 2 on the turn isnt the crime that it has been made out to be.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The horse was finished before the final turn. I doubt that being in the 3 path would have made 3/8ths of a mile difference.

Lets have an honest discussion here. In 80% of the races run in this country you have to consider what the jockeys effort level is going to be for certain horses. Longshots are often ridden with less than maximum effort. Dropdowns are often "carefully handled". Why do people think bug riders strting out get so many chances? They will let them run because often they dont know any better.

Do i think that it was a coincidence that Espinoza did what he did? No. But can we really start suspending people based on speculation? Because pushing a horse out an extra path or 2 on the turn isnt the crime that it has been made out to be.

I don't agree as a bettor but respect your opinion on this.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by jms62

I don't agree as a bettor but respect your opinion on this.

Dont agree with what part?

I as a participant in most areas of the industry also have a hard time believing that anyone who bets and is disgruntled about a particular ride will get more than a brief few seconds of satisfaction when a rider gets a 7 day suspension. I mean are you rooting for him to get sunburned while lounging on the beach?

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Dont agree with what part?

I as a participant in most areas of the industry also have a hard time believing that anyone who bets and is disgruntled about a particular ride will get more than a brief few seconds of satisfaction when a rider gets a 7 day suspension. I mean are you rooting for him to get sunburned while lounging on the beach?

What I gathered from your post is that I should just STFU and quite whining cause that is how things go. I feel the bettors were defrauded by a jock not even attempting to compete in the race. We don't agree and I am not going to change your mind and you are not going to change my mind. So I can either accept the way things are or cut my handle even more than I already have.

[10 pnt move up]

There were a few shenanigans that went on in the JCGC, have heard very little in the way of any rulings from that race.

The two california trained horses had, well, questionable rides.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by jms62

What I gathered from your post is that I should just STFU and quite whining cause that is how things go. I feel the bettors were defrauded by a jock not even attempting to compete in the race. We don't agree and I am not going to change your mind and you are not going to change my mind. So I can either accept the way things are or cut my handle even more than I already have.

The game is falling apart yet the people in the industry keep telling us that there is nothing to see here, move along. Not picking on Chuck but racing has an image issue big time to go along with many other issues. Can you imagine if horses were floated to the 7 path on the first turn in every race as just part of race riding. If its such a great tactic why dont we see it done more?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by jms62

What I gathered from your post is that I should just STFU and quite whining cause that is how things go. I feel the bettors were defrauded by a jock not even attempting to compete in the race. We don't agree and I am not going to change your mind and you are not going to change my mind. So I can either accept the way things are or cut my handle even more than I already have.

This idea that you have that every horses is 100% ridden to win every time is myopic. If you wont accept that then pretty much everything else you believe will be wrong as well.

A lot of people toss out the bettor card like you did here and whine that you arent betting anymore or have been disrespected. It is pretty weak.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Dont agree with what part?

I as a participant in most areas of the industry also have a hard time believing that anyone who bets and is disgruntled about a particular ride will get more than a brief few seconds of satisfaction when a rider gets a 7 day suspension. I mean are you rooting for him to get sunburned while lounging on the beach?

Another dismissive post.

It boggles the mind how anyone can defend the status quo.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Another dismissive post.

It boggles the mind how anyone can defend the status quo.

What status quo? Are you of the mindset that every horse is ridden 100% to win every time? Seriously?

It boggles the mind that some cant understand what point I'm trying to make.