Linda Rice

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by moses

I guess I don’t know enough about how the entries work but I sort of thought trainers had a general idea of what horses would be entering which races as it is. I know it’s the case for big races but assumed trainers sort of know for the smaller races as well. So it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to me.

It's actually a huge deal. With cheaper horses, you are really trying to maximize each run because they run for less. You try to avoid certain horses, avoid the big owners dropping one in for the win toward the owners title at the end of meets, find races with small fields, etc. At many tracks, scratching will push you down the priority list for the next similar race, so knowing in advance is a huge advantage.

I've met her a couple of times and she has always been super nice, but very competitive. I knew people that had horses with her a long time ago.

In her defense, I would say her competitive nature coupled with a very tough industry to be a highly successful woman led to many of her decisions. I'm sure this will be appealed and I hope they treat her fairly. I'm no expert on what the punishment should be. Despite what may be dubious actions on her part, I think she is a very good trainer.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

It's actually a huge deal. With cheaper horses, you are really trying to maximize each run because they run for less. You try to avoid certain horses, avoid the big owners dropping one in for the win toward the owners title at the end of meets, find races with small fields, etc. At many tracks, scratching will push you down the priority list for the next similar race, so knowing in advance is a huge advantage.

I've met her a couple of times and she has always been super nice, but very competitive. I knew people that had horses with her a long time ago.

In her defense, I would say her competitive nature coupled with a very tough industry to be a highly successful woman led to many of her decisions. I'm sure this will be appealed and I hope they treat her fairly. I'm no expert on what the punishment should be. Despite what may be dubious actions on her part, I think she is a very good trainer.

Wha? The "She's just a girl" defense? It's 2021, bro. She knew exactly what she was doing. This is trite virtue signaling needs to stop.

[moses]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Wha? The "She's just a girl" defense? It's 2021, bro. She knew exactly what she was doing. This is trite virtue signaling needs to stop.

I’m sure that as a woman in a field dominated by men, she’s faced more than her fair share of obstacles over the years. But I’m not sure what it has to do with any of this.

Given the rampant drug use in the sport, I am curious if she was using the information to avoid “supertrainers,” which still wouldn’t make it right but would be understandable.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by moses

Given the rampant drug use in the sport, I am curious if she was using the information to avoid “supertrainers,” which still wouldn’t make it right but would be understandable.

Rice herself served a 30-day suspension and La Verdad was disqualified from a Grade 2 win the same year the horse won an Eclipse because of a medication violation.

[moses]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Rice herself served a 30-day suspension and La Verdad was disqualified from a Grade 2 win the same year the horse won an Eclipse because of a medication violation.

I didn’t mean to imply that she has been totally clean. If I had to guess, one who cheats through one means is probably more likely to cheat via other means as well. Whatever gives them the edge. But I never got the sense that she was on the same level as some of the top cheats.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by moses

I didn’t mean to imply that she has been totally clean. If I had to guess, one who cheats through one means is probably more likely to cheat via other means as well. Whatever gives them the edge. But I never got the sense that she was on the same level as some of the top cheats.

I never considered her an alchemist either

[Thoroughbred Fan]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Wha? The "She's just a girl" defense? It's 2021, bro. She knew exactly what she was doing. This is trite virtue signaling needs to stop.

Not at all. It's fact. She been in the game over 20 years. The fact that you can't accept that she faced bias is amazing tunnel vision. She still made bad decisions. I'm not a perfect person and I don't expect it from anyone else. Show some empathy and act like you have made mistakes before.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

Not at all. It's fact. She been in the game over 20 years. The fact that you can't accept that she faced bias is amazing tunnel vision. She still made bad decisions. I'm not a perfect person and I don't expect it from anyone else. Show some empathy and act like you have made mistakes before.

Purposely cheating is not "making mistakes". It's premeditated race-fixing which has absolutely nothing to do with some perceived bias due to her tiddies and vag.

I do not have empathy for cheaters. You apparently do, as long as you can draw some inane assumption that she got picked on for being a female. That makes it all okay-dokey.

Ok, dude. You be you.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Purposely cheating is not "making mistakes". It's premeditated race-fixing which has absolutely nothing to do with some perceived bias due to her tiddies and vag.

I do not have empathy for cheaters. You apparently do, as long as you can draw some inane assumption that she got picked on for being a female. That makes it all okay-dokey.

Ok, dude. You be you.

Must be very comforting living in a world where everything is good or bad and black or white. Anyhoo in about a year or so perhaps the legal processes will resolve Linda Rice's issues.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Must be very comforting living in a world where everything is good or bad and black or white. Anyhoo in about a year or so perhaps the legal processes will resolve Linda Rice's issues.

Im sure it’s not exactly black and white....but she definitely did something wrong. The guys at NYRA didn’t get fired for nothing. She was paying them for info.

That’s a huge advantage over other barns. Especially smaller barns who struggle to make it.

What’s her defense exactly?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Im sure it’s not exactly black and white....but she definitely did something wrong. The guys at NYRA didn’t get fired for nothing. She was paying them for info.

That’s a huge advantage over other barns. Especially smaller barns who struggle to make it.

What’s her defense exactly?

I am sure she did some stuff that she wishes she hadn't. She should be held accountable for those transgressions. It's a small community of people and professional and personal boundaries can get smeared. It happens, people cross the line she and a few others within NYRA got caught they need to be dealt with. The punishment should be fair that is all I am suggesting. Meanwhile, she will be running horses in her name for the foreseeable future, right?

[moses]

Originally Posted by Thoroughbred Fan

It's actually a huge deal. With cheaper horses, you are really trying to maximize each run because they run for less. You try to avoid certain horses, avoid the big owners dropping one in for the win toward the owners title at the end of meets, find races with small fields, etc. At many tracks, scratching will push you down the priority list for the next similar race, so knowing in advance is a huge advantage.

I've met her a couple of times and she has always been super nice, but very competitive. I knew people that had horses with her a long time ago.

In her defense, I would say her competitive nature coupled with a very tough industry to be a highly successful woman led to many of her decisions. I'm sure this will be appealed and I hope they treat her fairly. I'm no expert on what the punishment should be. Despite what may be dubious actions on her part, I think she is a very good trainer.

Makes sense. I really just sort of assumed trainers knew this information just from people talking around the track but I guess that’s not the case.

[Konk]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

it's too bad, because she's an obviously great horseperson

And a lousy actual person.
3 years too light.
Lifetime ban seems appropriate.
The game either has integrity or it doesn't.
I hear a lot diners can't find help.
I'm sure she could sling hash.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Konk

And a lousy actual person.
3 years too light.
Lifetime ban seems appropriate.
The game either has integrity or it doesn't.
I hear a lot diners can't find help.
I'm sure she could sling hash.

Really? Sling hash? Have a heart. Ya think some of our "favorite" trainers never got a heads up on a horse entering or not?

[Konk]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Really? Sling hash? Have a heart. Ya think some of our "favorite" trainers never got a heads up on a horse entering or not?

Bottom line, she is a cheater and a thief.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Konk

Bottom line, she is a cheater and a thief.

I don't know the facts, few do

[Konk]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I don't know the facts, few do

3 years and 50 grand.....I think we are past reasonable doubt.

[pba1817]

Anyone who can justify cheating shows a lot about their own integrity(lack of). None of these trainers have a god given right to be a licensed trainer, it is a privilege. The real punishment should be a lifetime ban. When the punishment is extensive, then people will respect the rules. This will be a huge step in putting an end to the cheating.

As it stands now, she will appeal and it will be reduced to a lower punishment. She will be back looking for new ways to sidestep rules. As they all have done for decades.