Scratch of Uncle Mo made official

philcski · #1 05-06-2011, 07:36 AM

Kind of unfair of Todd and Repole to enter given it was a virtual certainty he was going to scratch. Not that I care about Sway Away but he should have had the shot to run.

philcski · #2 05-06-2011, 07:39 AM

And I would LOVE to see him in the Preakness. That race is tailor-made for him.

Kasept · #3 05-06-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Kind of unfair of Todd and Repole to enter given it was a virtual certainty he was going to scratch. Not that I care about Sway Away but he should have had the shot to run.

Forget the specific horse that was excluded... Does anyone care to do the financials of what cutting the field to 19 cost the industry in lost handle?

An outrageously selfish act from someone professing to 'love the game'.

fpsoxfan · #4 05-06-2011, 07:41 AM

So is he out or isn't he....???????

Kasept · #5 05-06-2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

So is he out or isn't he....???????

Yeah.. Scratched.

fpsoxfan · #6 05-06-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Yeah.. Scratched.

Thanks Steve. I agree, it's a piss poor move by all of the connections. I can now understand why people are not a fan of Repole. It appears he has tried and succeeded to a point, to make Derby Week about him.

Dahoss · #7 05-06-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

Thanks Steve. I agree, it's a piss poor move by all of the connections. I can now understand why people are not a fan of Repole. It appears he has tried and succeeded to a point, to make Derby Week about him.

I tried to tell you after the Wood. It's all about him.

randallscott35 · #8 05-06-2011, 09:24 AM

But how wil Repole make him the favorite now?

slotdirt · #9 05-06-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I tried to tell you after the Wood. It's all about him.

You say this like it's not like that with every owner in the sport.

Ogygian · #10 05-06-2011, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Yeah.. Scratched.

What is the "official" reason why there isn't an "AE" list for the derby again Steve?

philcski · #11 05-06-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogygian

What is the "official" reason why there isn't an "AE" list for the derby again Steve?

Pletcher now saying "critics of Repole for entering and excluding Sway Away should take it up with Churchill or the Kentucky Racing Commission, not Team Mo." LOL. I'd love to know why people flock to give this guy horses. He's Teflon, deflecting everything. I suppose Life At Ten wasn't his fault, either.

Travis Stone · #12 05-06-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Pletcher now saying "critics of Repole for entering and excluding Sway Away should take it up with Churchill or the Kentucky Racing Commission, not Team Mo." LOL. I'd love to know why people flock to give this guy horses. He's Teflon, deflecting everything. I suppose Life At Ten wasn't his fault, either.

I had this same conversation this morning with a friend...

It's a fine line, right? He didn't break any rules, and he effectively eliminated one more horse his other horse has to beat (not that it helps, but you know what I'm saying). On the other hand, there is the sportsmanship component and the "for the good of the game" ... but in black/white, they did nothing wrong.

It's sort of like when the golfers in the US Open fired their drives over another hole to hit the green in one. That night, tournament officials planted a tree off the tee so they couldn't do it, and forced them to use the dogleg/fairway.

Part of me has a hard time pointing fingers at someone who does everything within the rules, the other part of me thinks Sway Away deserves a chance, and the final part of me realizes the handle significance of the move. The answer is somewhere in the middle.

Kasept · #13 05-06-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogygian

What is the "official" reason why there isn't an "AE" list for the derby again Steve?

Difficult executionally with tote and such. We'll discuss the particulars next week undoubtedly.

MaTH716 · #14 05-06-2011, 08:21 AM

From a handicappin perspective, I'm just glad he's officially out. Because if he ran, I felt he had to be used, even with all the speculation that surrounded him. One less (good) horse to have to worry about.

slotdirt · #15 05-06-2011, 08:23 AM

Is there another race going where a horse can't get in off the AE list when there's a scratch 30+ hours from post?

Linny · #16 05-06-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogygian

What is the "official" reason why there isn't an "AE" list for the derby again Steve?

Because of advance wagering there are no AE's. Obviously, if there was an AE, Sway Away could have drawn in this am when Mo was announced as out, but once betting has opened today at about 10am, there would be no way to add to the field.

I think the whole circus with Mo is a mess.

GBBob · #17 05-06-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogygian

What is the "official" reason why there isn't an "AE" list for the derby again Steve?

I was talking to an ex Racing Secretary at CD this morning and asked him that question. He gave two answers:

1) The betting and wagering would be compromised with AEs...In Uncle Mo's case he was scratched "relatively" early, but if there was a race day scratch, it would wreck the pools.

2) The second reason is more interesting....It has to do with the merchandising and all the glasses, T Shirts and Sweat shirts that are printed with the starting field listed. Those would become irrelevant....or a collector's item I guess?

justindew · #18 05-06-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Forget the specific horse that was excluded... Does anyone care to do the financials of what cutting the field to 19 cost the industry in lost handle?

An outrageously selfish act from someone professing to 'love the game'.

I hope no one attends the press conference.

philcski · #19 05-06-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Forget the specific horse that was excluded... Does anyone care to do the financials of what cutting the field to 19 cost the industry in lost handle?

An outrageously selfish act from someone professing to 'love the game'.

My good friend Ed DeRosa who follows these things closely just posted that from 2006-2010, the lowest handle was 2009 (the only year there was 19 instead of 20, because of the scratch of IWR). At least this time it was before the wagering pools opened which means no refunds- but I think the number is at LEAST 5%. Additionally, this will be the first year with no NYCOTB, which was worth $5MM in handle on the race itself and $10MM throughout the day- how much of that money is made up on track at Belmont or through ADW's? Definitely not 100% of it. Wouldn't be surprised if the number is somewhat disappointing this year.

outofthebox · #20 05-06-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasept

Forget the specific horse that was excluded... Does anyone care to do the financials of what cutting the field to 19 cost the industry in lost handle?

An outrageously selfish act from someone professing to 'love the game'.

I just thought he was trying to keep the future bettors alive..