August 25 Saratoga ROI Wagers go here

[JolyB]

The stretch drive was eerily reminiscent of these same two horses in last year's Coaching Club, with the same race riding, the same review and the same result.

I've always felt that the one whose actions initiate the contact is more at fault that the second one whose horse veers. However, there is no question that reasonable people may disagree, and your position may be influenced by whether your ox was gored or not.

I do wonder whether just as baseball umpires seem to have slightly different strike zones for all stars and rookies, do racing stewards have slightly different points of view for hall of fame jockeys and apprentices. Just my opinion, but if a young jockey had done exactly what Mike Smith did, he would have been taken down and given days.