Classic DQ -- Update: Overhead video unearthed
 

California Stewards were never gonna DQ a Calif trainer like Baffert and move up a European. If Shared Belief finished 2nd, there would have been a DQ

Woah

Really dude. Put the pipe down.....

Just saw this and laughed.

"The B in CHRB stands for Baffert or Bullsh*it" I can't remember which".. :D

and if cal chrome finished 2nd, what would the cali stewards do then? lol

They'd have dq'd chrome for hanging late in the race. Obviously

That was an embarrassingly bad call, that horse eliminated half the field, looked like a Quarter Horse race at Los Alamitos.

Yes, it was, but we all knew he wasn't coming down.

I wouldn't have been surprised if there'd have been a second inquiry in that race as well.

That start was like a Sam who lite.

http://www.drf.com/news/bayern-survi...ins-bc-classic

She said the decision by the stewards was unanimous.

Ninety minutes after the race, the California Horse Racing Board released a statement from Chaney that said, in part, “The incident occurred in a part of the race where the horses interfered with were not cost the opportunity to place where they were reasonably expected to finish.”

WHAT ??? Shared belief was the favorite to win,how does that jive go ???

The CHRB Safety Rules

"We want your involvement in helping us develop methods that will ultimately result in longer, more productive careers for your horses, safer conditions for the riders and a positive public image for horse racing....."

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/racing_safety.html

The stewards rule on DQ, is so nice and general.

Rule Title
1543 Stewards to Determine Fouls and Extent of Disqualification.
Rule Text The stewards shall determine the extent of disqualification in cases of fouls or riding or drivinginfractions. They may place the offending horse behind such other horses as in their judgmentit interfered with, or they may place it las

http://www.chrb.ca.gov/query_rules_a..._argument=1543

The stewards at a BC venue should be from a variety of jurisdictions to prevent homer type decisions IMHO; like the other professional sports to keep everything on the up and up.
The jocks and trainers all know what they can get away with out of the gate,so they can demolish a field out of the gate but not have an incidental bump or brush late in a race; makes no sense.

Why not have a panel or group of citizens etc and view the start of the 2014 bc classic and give them options to vote on what is fair or not and see what the results are !

Gross exaggeration of reality.

What are the rules? Since the stewards have been given more discretion and not adjudicated these matters under "a foul is a foul" rule, I've always thought the rule was whether a horse was deprived a chance to achieve a maximum placing. (That certainly seemed to be the case with Shared Belief and, to a greater degree, Moreno given his style of running.) To state that they are viewing these matters under a "where they were reasonably expected to finish" standard is scary. Now the stewards are handicappers as well? On a day where one longshot after another outperformed where they were generally expected to finish, I don't want the stewards determining who are hopeless horses and which ones are not.

A couple of other thoughts: What Garcia did yesterday was essentially the same thing that Calvin Borel did in the 2013 Kentucky Oaks and that was generally panned as a bush-league move.

The California stewards suspended Victor Espinoza for his ride in the Awesome Again and leave this incident alone. Where's the consistency?

Agree with this totally.............didn't have a "dog in the fight' but hated to see this happen. Watched the head-on several times and just can't help but conclude that Bayern sawed off the 3 horses inside of him. That move greatly impacted the remainder of the race and most certainly denied Moreno any shot at all. I knew they would never take down Baffert but it certainly taints the victory, in my opinion. (as if that matters).

I hate hypotheticals but I pose this one: Trade Moreno for Bayern in the race positions and at the start of the race. Do you think they would have taken Moreno down? I can imagine Baffert himself getting on the phone to the stewards.............

But hey, I'm probably still bitter about the DQ in the 1984 BC Classic......:D

The guiding rule in California regarding race riding.. Rule 1699. Chaney is quoting the rule: http://www.chrb.ca.gov/query_rules_a..._argument=1699

So difficult. Hard for me to be objective as Toast getting put up makes a big difference in my own results, but I was 100% expecting a DQ. The more I watch the replays, including the one from behind the gate, the more I get the non-call. Sawyer, Chaney & Ward have at least consistent in ignoring these incidents at the start. Arduous, frustrating end to the weekend.

Agree on the difficulty of being dispassionate regarding Toast of New York, but let's look at clauses (c) and (d) of the California rules :

(c) A horse which interferes with another and thereby causes any other horse to lose stride, ground or position, when such other horse is not at fault and when such interference occurs in a part of the race where the horse interfered with loses the opportunity to place where it might, in the opinion of the Stewards, be reasonably expected to finish, may be disqualified and placed behind the horse so interfered with. (d) Jockeys shall not ride carelessly, or willfully, so as to permit their mount to interfere with or impede any other horse.

Bayern's break clearly impeded at least three paths and more likely four paths from the break which would be interpretted as a violation of (c). More important however was that Garcia was clearly shoving for the lead and made little attempt to straighten the forward path of Bayern which was in violation of (d).

If Bayern had to correct course and straighten coming from the gates, you can be assured that he would not have been on the lead which would have compromised his chances in the race; in fact, everything there would have taken a completely different complexion.

As a result of an evaluation of (c) and (d) in addition to the consideration of Bayern potentially being course corrected, a disqualification was the proper call.

The stewards should have watched the 1989 Sprint where they took down Sam Who for doing a moderately worse start than Bayern.

I realize that happened before most people here were fans, but I think there is a parallel here.

I'm going to guess that the stewards would say in that instance that his start caused a DNF.

Which is little different than the result for Moreno.

I think they (erroneously) determined that while a violation of clause (c) occurred, it was deemed to not have occurred in a key portion of the race. How you can determine that the break was not a key portion of the race, and thus had no final effect on the outcome of the race, is beyond me. I've read that the stewards look less harshly on the first jump or two (besides a horse being held too long) and even if that was the case, the second violation was well beyond that point.

I view the decision yesterday as rewarding dangerous riding. Thankfully, Shared Belief didn't get hurt and was able to finish the race. I found the race to be disappointing and hope they all meet again soon.

I rarely post here, but this subject has me fired up. I did cash on the race, but a DQ of Bayern would have been even better for me.

I don't understand how anyone can think Matin Garcia did anything wrong. Bayern broke in and Garcia was trying to pull him back to the left.

I also think you could make a case that Toast of NY interfered with Moreno and Sharred Belief as much as Bayern did. Moreno was sitting 3rd until Toast made his move in causing Moreno to be taken up thus causing SB to check.

In the end I think it was a good no call.

I agree about Toast of New York.

However, even if it wasn't the jocks fault, I would find the argument that Bayern's start didn't cost Moreno a placing impossible to defend.

Also, just about the only scenario in which Bayern can win is one where Moreno gets taken out of his race.

Anyone who bet Bayern is phenomenally lucky.

Like Steve, upon watching the replay I do "get" the no call regardless of how much I disagree with decision. He took out the favorite and the only other speeds in the race.

A shame really. Did anyone else notice bayern lathered up a little before he was loaded in the gate or was it just the crappy tvs at laurel park?

Just bad racing luck for Shared Belief and Moreno, it happens.

They dont dq for gate infractions, dont see why they should have yesterday.

I think CC deserves the eclipse for 3yo, he was running and winning when the races meant the most in the middle of the year, he got beat a half length yesterday. He did more and the last thing we need to do is promote skipping the early part of the years biggest three year old races (I know Bayern was on the trail but was not good enough yet, got dusted in the preakness, travers).

No I'm not bitter.....


Attachment 2437

It wasn't always that way. Take a look at the DQ of Sky Beauty from the 1992 Spinaway ( for considerably less than what Bayern did yesterday): http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G5AvhGhzcGo.

OUCH!!!!!! Man that's tough and to think it would have cost you little to capture a fantastic pay day :$::$::$: if ya only had faith in Baffert . . . OUCH again big time.

whether intentional or no, the horse impeded several others. he should have been dq'd.
ironic that the guy kvetching about game on dude never being allowed to run his race wins with a front runner who mugged his early speed rivals, thus getting the lead and the race all to himself.

Saver ;)

Attachment 2438

Which bridge are you at right now?

Props for singling that #14 horse in the Turf. I hope you bet him to win.

20WPS :D

Nice!!:tro::tro:

Dear CHRB
 

"Dear California Horse Racing Board,

While your stewards failed to find the causality in the chain reaction of one horse crashing into several others during the start of North America’s richest race – the Breeders’ Cup Classic – their inexplicable inaction certainly will have an affect on the sport you’re supposed to watch guard. But since you have already failed miserably at calculating how bettors, the lifeblood of Thoroughbred racing, are already leaving in droves or betting far less, I guess no one should be surprised by your widespread ineptitude."


http://www.horseracingnation.com/blo...isgraceful_123

Laura - I firmly believe that stewards should be appointed from a non jurisdctional pool of the best stewards nominated by the BC, so there is no taint possible from home town stewards who all agree that their local trainers not at fault. Would the Super bowl or World series have "homer" officials chosen to officiate. ? There should be no question of possible taint, which has occurred in this case. PERIOD.

I think they used to call it more as a "foul is a foul" back then, I could be wrong I just started watching it.

Its pretty hard to use one example 20 years ago as any justification in a decision today.

The Stewards should be graded throughout the year just like in the NFL and MLB, then top 5 stewards are picked to work the Breeders Cup.

:tro:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...om-bayerns-win

now, it's 'racing luck'. that's not what he said about GOD earlier.
does anyone think that part of why he told the owners to retire GOD was so he didn't have two horses with the same running style in the classic? i don't know how trainers juggle top horses from different owners anyway.

Going to be interesting in Dubai as both horses are being pointed there.

I heard there were quite a few boos when Bayern came back to the winners circle.

Am I the only one who believes Toast of NY slammed the door down on several a few hundred yards up the track?

I think that 99% arguing for and against (including me) are transparent in their position. Bayern closed my Pick 3 and I didn't have TONY anywhere, so I think they got it right. Those with TONY are furious about the non-call and don't acknowledge he cause some trouble himself. The Shared Believe and Chrome crowds are looking for a way to move their guy up, but it just wasn't the day.

No matter who you bet, and therefore support, there is no denying that Bayern ran his tail off in victory and the horse earned the win.

from DRF....

BAYERN broke inward bumping SHARED BELIEF and also forcing that rival into MORENO, cleared after a sixteenth of a
mile and was guided to the rail, set the pace under a light hold, was called upon leaving the five sixteenths marker, met oncoming
challenges from TOAST OF NEW YORK and CALIFORNIA CHROME near the sixteenth marker, wandered outward a bit under left
handed rousing and dug in gamely to prevail by the slimmest of margins. TOAST OF NEW YORK angled over soon after the break
putting SHARED BELIEF in close quarters and bumping MORENO, straightened and stalked the winner just out from the inside,
ranged up outside that one heading towards the sixteenth pole, continued gamely between rivals and just missed. CALIFORNIA
CHROME settled in range three wide, came under a drive leaving the far turn, steadilly progressed into the stretch, loomed boldy
past the sixteenth marker, drifted out from left handed urging nearing the wire and kept on willingly. SHARED BELIEF bobbled
and forced into MORENO by the winner at the break, steadied when put close soon after, checked off heels when angling for room
nearing the wire the first time, raced four wide into the clubhouse turn, dropped in a path while in range down the backstretch, gave
hard pursuit into the lane but failed to overcome his early adversity. TONALIST dropped off the early pace while removed from the
rail, came under pressure the final turn, angled five to six wide for the drive and found his best too late. CANDY BOY settled off the
rail, raced between foes nearing the far turn angled out and gained some five wide nearing the quarter pole but failed to sustain
his run through the final furlong. CIGAR STREET saved ground stalking the pace, edged closer nearing the half mile pole, came
under a ride three furlongs out, angled out nearing the stretch and weakened. ZIVO lacked speed while saving some ground early
on, came off the inside for the run around the final turn, shifted six wide in upper stretch, had belated interest without threatening.
IMPERATIVE , pinched back at the break, raced three wide off the early pace, moved forward past the half mile pole, angled to the
rail continuing a run, angled out pursuing in upper stretch but failed to sustain. FOOTBRIDGE was guided inward soon after the
start, made it to the rail mid way on the first turn, gained under a ride past the three eighths pole, continued inside into the lane
then one paced in the last eighth. V. E. DAY broke slowly then was squeezed, angled to the rail and dropped well off the pace, was
called upon around the far turn, swung wide entering the lane but failed to menace. PRAYER FOR RELIEF saved ground most of
the way while not making an impact. MAJESTIC HARBOR , five wide into the first turn, stayed removed from the rail into the far
turn, was pushed along between runners nearing the stretch and lacked a bid. MORENO was slammed in the jam up at the break,
bumped with TOAST OF NEW YORK when that one came inward in the opening furlong, steadied along when rank behind foes,
continued difficult to settle past the three quarter pole, came under pressure chasing off the rail into the far turn, steadily retreated
from there and was eased in the final furlong.

I agree that Toast interfered badly, perhaps even worse than Bayern. That may have been a chain reaction though.

Bayern did anything but earn his win. He needed two things to happen in the race to win, and they both did. He needed Moreno to not show speed, and then he needed nobody to collar him around the 3/8ths pole.