scratch rules in kentucky

[deltagulf]

story on draw and scratch rules here. for bigger fields in kentucky.




http://news.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=39423

[ALostTexan]

There needs to be something done about the BS scratches that go on every day. "We didn't like the post position" is an excuse that really, really pisses me off, and I am glad that something is being done about it, since it is way too easy to claim a medical reason for a scratch and then run them back two days later.

Now, if they can only do something to change the way that trainers can scratch without reason until the field is down to 8. Sorry if you don't like the competition that you are facing, but if you enter a horse into a race, you should race them.

Just a small step to help the bettors, which is at least something...

[10 pnt move up]

I wish NYRA had this rule, why are trainers constantly allowed to multi enter and scratch to the better spot within a day or so?

[ALostTexan]

100% agree on NYRA, total BS that this can happen...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ALostTexan

There needs to be something done about the BS scratches that go on every day. "We didn't like the post position" is an excuse that really, really pisses me off, and I am glad that something is being done about it, since it is way too easy to claim a medical reason for a scratch and then run them back two days later.

Now, if they can only do something to change the way that trainers can scratch without reason until the field is down to 8. Sorry if you don't like the competition that you are facing, but if you enter a horse into a race, you should race them.

Just a small step to help the bettors, which is at least something...

Would you rather the horse just go out for a spin because he wasn't allowed to scratch?

Mandatory scratch lists are stupid and they dont work. NYRA a few years back went to a 2 week vets list for scratches and it was quickly scrapped because it make things worse, not better. The new KY rule is just a waste of everybodys time. 3 extra days is not going to be a factor in anyones decision to scratch. Truth is that most of the time when you scratch there is not a similar race written back for a few weeks anyway so it really does not matter. And a lot of the time when you see a horse scratched and entered back in a few days at the same track it was by request of the racing secretary. And I'm not even going to go into having a state vet decide if your horse should or should not be scratched.

[Cannon Shell]

As for the claiming rule. they could have eliminated the open claiming rule and forced out of state owners to run a horse at the meet in order to claim. That would greatly reduce the number of outside horses being claimed at a short meet like Keeneland where it is tougher to get in a race in order to get eligible to claim. What they have done is fail to recoginze the uniqueness of KY's racing setup and serve to hamper the efforts of midwestern horsemen who race on the FairGrounds/Churchill/Keeneland/Arlington curcuit. You would have assumed that Churchill would have seen that doing this will hurt the racing at Arlington and Fair Grounds as horses claimed at Churchill in the spring meet and fall meet will be out of action at their other tracks for a month. This will especially hurt Fair Grounds during December when many owners look to claim at Churchill to run down there for the winter. Many of those owners will either look elsewhere to claim which hurts the bottom line of the state which cant collect the 6% on claims since they will be down dramatically. And it hurts the smaller claiming owner who loses a lot of flexability with a claimed horse. Forcing a guy to run a horse claimed at Churchill at Ellis or Turfway especially a non KY bred is wrong minded.

[deltagulf]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

As for the claiming rule. they could have eliminated the open claiming rule and forced out of state owners to run a horse at the meet in order to claim. That would greatly reduce the number of outside horses being claimed at a short meet like Keeneland where it is tougher to get in a race in order to get eligible to claim. What they have done is fail to recoginze the uniqueness of KY's racing setup and serve to hamper the efforts of midwestern horsemen who race on the FairGrounds/Churchill/Keeneland/Arlington curcuit. You would have assumed that Churchill would have seen that doing this will hurt the racing at Arlington and Fair Grounds as horses claimed at Churchill in the spring meet and fall meet will be out of action at their other tracks for a month. This will especially hurt Fair Grounds during December when many owners look to claim at Churchill to run down there for the winter. Many of those owners will either look elsewhere to claim which hurts the bottom line of the state which cant collect the 6% on claims since they will be down dramatically. And it hurts the smaller claiming owner who loses a lot of flexability with a claimed horse. Forcing a guy to run a horse claimed at Churchill at Ellis or Turfway especially a non KY bred is wrong minded.

so what they are trying to do is not the answer for bigger fields?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by deltagulf

so what they are trying to do is not the answer for bigger fields?

Keenland and Arlington dont seem to have any problems with field size? The issue is a complex one that has many facets. Tracks cry about field size but they continue to have 11 race cards. They continue to not work with other tracks in their region to try to keep from having similar races written on the same days. They try to intimidate horsemen into running. They pass rules that will probably decrease field size.