Backstretch people and exp horseplayers - "VET SCRATCH"

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by chucklestheclown

I never thought a vet scratch meant "lameness": I thought it meant the horse wasnt fit to run for whatever reason. Maybe they should have to designate-lame;lungs;colic-whatever.

When a horse is a vet's scratch, the horse will go on the "vet's list". The vet's list will in fact denote why the horse is on the vet's list. It may say "unsound", "sick", "lame", "injured", etc.

In the case of the horse Bobby asked about, I have no idea when the horse was scratched. Was he scratched in the post parade? Was he scratched in the paddock? Was he scratched the morning of the race?

[chucklestheclown]

[quote=Rupert Pupkin]When a horse is a vet's scratch, the horse will go on the "vet's list". The vet's list will in fact denote why the horse is on the vet's list. It may say "unsound", "sick", "lame", "injured", etc. QUOTE]
Except for "sick," those all mean the same thing!

[phystech]

I'm surprised Delpark let the horse run at Belmont. Used to be, and I would assume it still is, if you vet scratch, you pay a "days" penalty - i.e., you can't race anywhere for 5 days, or 10 days, etc.

Maybe they've changed their rule in Del.......

[Dick Powell]

Rupert,
In Louisana, the claiming rule had to be changed for exactly that reason. The rule is that the claim is valid when the horses leave the paddock. We actually had a race there years ago where a horse was listed as claimed and scratched in the same race.
Dick

[chucklestheclown]

LOL!