V J S NEEED YOUR OPINION All DTER'S PLEASE READ AND RESPOND
 

Hey kids. I was sitting chatting with the stewards today. The subject of the stewards announcing and explaining thier own decisions again came up. Not long after Chairman Shapiro stopped by and joined the conversation. I'm not gonna tell you our opinions on the matter. I want yours.

I know there was a thread on this on another site a few weeks back but it did get much play. I really want to hear from you the fans. Believe me your voice on this one will be considered.

Please this one time don't use this thread to bash the CHRB or say the stewards suck. On this one let's try and stick to the initial subject matter.

Thanks in advance for all your responses.

Looking forward to hearing what you think.

Cheers

Goofy

If they make a change they should explain why. If they don't, they need to explain why...simple as that.

There decision may not be right or their explaination, but even the weather man can explain why hos forcast is wrong. Also, like the NFL, all questionable calls should be reviewed by a higher authority...one here one earth.

Spyder

If the stewards were to announce their decision and reasoning, it would show the perception as they are 'behind' their decision. I think it would be great for them to say "We DQ'ed because of this very incident". Describe to us why you are looking at it, and then explain your decision. I think there is plenty of time between races for them to spend 3-5 minutes describing their reasoning.....

But I think the MAIN thing is just consistency, which I think they 'try' to accomplish.

100% of what he said.

Camera angles should be a main issue. I believe there should be better camera angles for inquiry purposes especialy on the far turn.

Getting an explanation for ANY decision is a good thing.

I think if the Stews give their reasoning, it may clear things up with the betting public and some of the rancor aimed at them may (or may not) be tempered. It will also help some of the newer (or less hardcore) horseplayers to understand the game and they possibly won't be as turned off to the game if they are on the wrong end of a dq. They will have to find another reason to blame the track for putting one over on them.

There's no legitimate argument AGAINST the stewards explaining their decisions. The more transparency, the better. For once the best interest of the bettors should be considered.

A simple explanation is what I would like. Although the winning horse interfeared with the horse that finished 3rd, we believe it did not effect the final placings, etc...If they review it, they should tell you what they are looking at, and why they changed or did not change the result. It really can be done in 2-3 sentences.

Thank you for asking!

I am for hearing the reasoning behind a stewards decision though I think a written statement may be more effective than an announcement. Especially so if the rule which was violated was shown because very few have access or fully understand the rules of racing and how they differ in different jurisdictions.

it should be mandatory that the decisions are explained in a written statement
keeping things out in the open is the best way. i feel they owe it to the players.

i'll stick with the idea that a transcript of the stewards discussion should be available.

that way they don't need to explain anything. it's already there in the open air.

what is the argument against this?

I think it can only help with relaying why the stewards make the decisions that they do. If they did explain it, along with showing the replay while they're doing it, it will help in a few ways.
1. it will make things more transparent
2. will show the race fans both at the track and at home that they're trying to be consistant (which I do believe that they are)
3. I agree with Scav with saying that it'll show that the stewards are behind their decision
4. They should also announce why if a claim of foul or inquiry why they would NOT take a horse down.

Having this happen whenever there's an inquiry or claim of foul (DQ or not) would only help the game and the public's perception of it.

also, i think you would find that the decisions would become more consistent as a result of having to explain them. i'm sure of it.

Exactly. maybe they will hear their reasoning outloud. It gives a sense of ownership and responsibility if they were to grab the microphone and explain their reasoning....

Great stuff guys! Keep it up. BTW a written explanation of all rulings is available by reading the stewards minutes which are available at www.chrb.ca.gov

Thanks so much.

V

Vic, as many times as I've heard the following: "How could they leave that horse up", OR "What were they lookin at", and other choice words that would not be allowed to be written her, I say without a doubt they should have to explain they're decisions. It may not change how we feel as players about calls we think should, or shouldn't have been made, I know it won't in fact. But it would be great to hear what went into the decisions, one way or the other.

Yeah they could stop betting on races. That would be nice.

Would love to hear from the stewards, but keep it short and to the point. Dont drag out the ruling and the next race. I have been on both sides of the DQ and I always shake it off and move on without any blame to the officals.

Exactly, short and sweet. Too much detail will lead to questioning down to the most minute detail (and crying and whining). And only explain DQ's; if the objection is disallowed- just say insufficient evidence for a DQ and move onward. We all have lives to live and money to lose.....:cool:

I think the issue is a bit more complicated than it appears.

Watching races and making decisions based what one sees is both very technical and an art. Very few are expert at it. I doubt that the best race watchers in the country are working as stewards. I doubt, in fact, that any of the stewards are even remotely good race watchers. This isn't meant as criticism of the stewards but more general criticism of the industry; for example, I would bet that most of the video people, those responsible for the position and perspective of the cameras are clueless when it comes to what the trip handicapper wants to see in the film of a race. This is tape that the stewards rely on, btw. Now, say there's an incident in the stretch run of a turf sprint on the inner at BEL. How exactly do the stewards make a decision when the stretch run appears as if it is shot from Linden BLVD? Technology is not in place, in this case, for a rational decision. Yet, they're taking our money. Give the stewards BETTER resources.

The viewing of a race can be a very subjective event with a plethora of different interpretations. Assume that the stewards go out of their way to provide written explanations; or whatever else some of the others have mentioned as being sufficient to appease them. Since a strong majority of race watchers are clueless when it come to 'watching races', you'll always have a whole bunch of people disatisfied with any decision. Many a time I've shaken my head at some of the interpretations of races; interpretations I thought were OBVIOUS. And, I'm sure, others has also thought my take on a given race to be ridiculous.

So what do I want? 2 things; 1 to make the game a bit fairer; 2 to make the game a bit safer for the jockeys and horses.

1) I want the stewards to show me that they actually understand what happens in races and DQ and FINE any jockey that herds in the stretch (or at any other point). Castellano, for example, has won quite a few races by herding out and intimidating a horse that is making a winning move. The NBA is finally going to do something about the FLOPPERS; racing needs to take this advantage away from the herders.

2) any jockey that does not stay in lane when going into (or while in any part) of a turn needs to be FINED!!!. There are far too many instances of jockeys/horses getting pinched going into the turn because the idiot in the 2 path can't stay in the 2 path. Fine the MOFOS before someone gets killed. Show the public that the stewards as least have a clue in this area.

Give me these two changes and I'll be a happy horse player.

DQ's are part of the game and there will always be disagreements about them.