3/21: AQU 1st cancelled in Horseman's salvo to Albany
 

AQU 1st RACE CANCELLED; REMAINING CARD ANTICIPATED TO RUN

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The horses for Aqueduct’s 1st race on Sunday, March 21 did not arrive at the security barn by 8:00 a.m., the designated deadline, and as a result the 1st race has been cancelled. The horses for Aqueduct’s 2nd race did arrive, and NYRA anticipates the remaining card to be run as scheduled. Post time for Aqueduct’s 2nd race is 1:29 p.m. EDT.

Steve is there some kind of protest/rally today that's going to affect the races?

There's a 12n-2p Horseman's rally and press conference at Belmont. My guess on this is that the BEL-AQU shuttle van broke down or got stuck in a traffic situation and couldn't get to the D-barn in time.


EDIT: I didn't think Violette was dumb enough to do something like this. He's the proverbial 'smartest guy in the room'... according to himself.

Any updates on Gulfstream?

Just another day @ NYRA......:zz:
On a side note; between here in NY and Kentucky, state goverment are KILLING our sport! :mad:

Rick Violette is explaining the situation right now on Trackfacts (Capital OTB)

He should focus on popping his firsters.

It is in fact being reported as a protest of the poor handling of the slots measure by the state...
http://drf.com/news/article/111603.html

Very odd.

Yep NYRA doesn't need the handle money? Of all things to do? Owners don't earn, Trainers don't earn, NYRA doesn't earn and all for what a 80 people and a Megaphone? It is important for State to make a decision but why this?

Totally agree Fred. Shocked Violette would orchestrate this the way it was done.

This explains why Valid Sum worked on Friday, if they all knew the first race wasn't going to run anyway.

Nothing like alienating owners, fans, and management.. How does this help get the message out? Buy a full page in the NY TIMES, hire a PR firm, drop a sky diver out of a plane in between races with a sign that get gets on local news.. Cancel a race is just biting the hand that feeds you on EVERY level...Oh BTW...screw the bettors for the changes to boot

Dey tuk ur slots

Well said Freddy. The only people that are affected (with exception to the connections of the horses entered in the 1st) are the bettors. And they will just invest their money somewhere else. Really with the next two days being dark, they would have had plenty of time to march/rally in Albany get some press coverage and be back in plenty of time to run the entire card on Wednesday.

Durka Durka Mohammad Jhiad!!

The powers that be over at NYRA somehow fail to grasp this. I give it another year before even the diehards start looking elsewhere.

On a positive note:

1) Campo actually carded another 5.5F race today --- go figure:rolleyes: Not like he's stuck in a 6F rut.

2) The turf course is really, really green (which is the way NYRA likes it).

What don't you think NYRA grasps?

What were their options at 8am this morning when the Horsemen foisted this ill-conceived concept on them?

You think NYRA just said, "OK Rick, that's fine. We understand."

You don't think they actively tried to explain to Violette the stupidity of what he and the NYTHA were doing?

How would you have handled the situation?

I really think this is why he cant win first out anymore. He needs to focus on getting them ready, I need Rick V.

I laughed



ALOT!

Your best post evah!