Bridge Jumper at Beulah
 

I saw this on another board and had to post here.

The full article is here:

http://www.drf.com/news/dick-jerardi...ust-final-time

Key part:

Bridge jumper at Beulah gets burned

A friend called me Monday afternoon and said I had to check the past performances and result of the first at Beulah Park. The lines revealed a six-horse field of maiden-claiming Ohio-breds going 5 1/2 furlongs. Three of the horses were so slow that none had gotten a Beyer above 0. A fourth had one 4 Beyer and five 0 Beyers in six starts. There was a 5-year-old first time starter by a $1,500 sire, a son of Secretariat by the timely name of Academy Award. And Paige’s Prize, who had run 18 times without winning, but really looked like he could not lose. He had four Beyers of 20 or better in his previous six races. Really, what more could you want?

Paige’s Prize went off at 2-5, cleared the field after 100 yards or so and won by 12 1/2 lengths. There was a stewards’ inquiry because the rail horse was in tight on the backstretch and the jockey lost his irons before finishing last. There was also nearly $29,000 out of a bit more than $30,000 bet to show on Paige’s Prize.

I saw the race like the chartcaller: “Paige’s Prize quickly to the front, set all the pace while unchallenged throughout while tons the best. . . . High Award took a bad step from inside while in tight with the rider losing his irons to the eighth pole.’’

Paige’s Prize did come over and get close to Personality Plus, who was close to High Award. If there was contact between Paige’s Prize and Personality Plus, I did not see it on the head on replay.

The stewards placed Paige’s Prize last behind High Award. What I imagine was a $25,000 show bet by one player was then distributed to some very surprised players who got as lucky as the big bettor was unlucky. “Winner’’ Petes Blue Diamond, 9-1, paid $41.20 to show. Personality Plus, second at 17-1, paid $62.60. The aptly named World Chaos paid $72.60.

And I wondered again about racing gods, bridge jumpers, and the arbitrary nature that is stewards changing results after the fact.

That was a poor call imo.

I saw a horse that was brigdejumped at Charles Town about two weeks ago.

He blew the break with JD Acosta, circled up wide into the first turn, and just barely appeared to save 3rd. I was watching the race in a simulcast room, and everyone was like "he almost blew 3rd!" and "Wow, that was close!"

Within about 20 seconds, the horse was posted on the board as the 4th place finisher and Charles Town never showed the photo. I'm sure he must have took a very bad picture and lost the bob ... but half of the room was in disbelief that he lost the photo...and you had the conspiracy talk going because the photo was called in only about 20 seconds after the finish line and Charles Town didn't show it after the race.

Here was the race:

http://www1.drf.com/displayVideo.do?...=D&country=USA

The #4 was the horse bridgejumped. The photo was called and posted on the board before the horses had turned around. No photo finish was ever shown on the tv feed.

Not saying Charles Town did anything wrong ... but if you're going to be calling photos that incredibly tight before the horses are even turned around...it's probably a good idea to bother and show the photo finish picture.

At least they showed the head-on replay and the will-pays though! Some smaller tracks can't always manage to do that.

OUCH!

The jumper probably went from extreme to opposite extreme in the matter of a minute. Extremely relieved that his horse held 3rd soon became extremely sickened to the stomach that he got edged out. Sort of like the guys from For-Ay Stables when they lost the shake for Mon Gateux! :eek:

Guy i know cashed on all three finishers...:tro:

BEU #1 $2 Show 3,4,5 none $ 6.00 $ 176.40 + $ 170.40

I've seen a couple of times the photo camera malfunction and cause the stewards to review from the tape replay.

June 30 Stewards Minutes (Betfair Hollywood Park)---
http://t.co/56RItHC6

06/28/12

PHOTO FINISH MALFUNCTION-NO PICTURE
Immediately after the finish of the fourth race, Photo Finish technician
Tammy Boag informed the Stewards that due to a camera malfunction
there was no photo finish image available. The Placing Judges were
aware of the situation and compared their numbers with those of the
Stewards. All five officials were in agreement. Additionally, the video of
the race was run at slow motion speed through the finish line area to
further verify the numbers. The camera was working for the next race and
throughout the day.