NYSRWB Installs Strict Protocols for Belmont Stakes Horses

[TouchOfGrey]

Horses will be stalled in a Belmont stakes barn beginning June 6, subjected to out-of-competition blood testing and be closely monitored to ensure safety and integrity.

Read on: Racing and Wagering Board Installs Strict Protocols for Horses and Participants Taking Part in June 9 Belmont Stakes

[slotdirt]

So a horse must be shipped to Belmont three days before the race in order to participate? Lots of trainers ship closer to a race, and sometimes even the morning of a given race.

[TouchOfGrey]

DRF's Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) tweets:

Even though Michael Matz has Union Rags in the Belmont, no one from NYRA or NYSRWB had bothered to tell him about the mandate.

Matz was planning on shipping Thurs. When I told him Union Rags needed to be on grounds by noon Wed, he said, "I guess we're coming Wed."

Matz: "Jesus, do they make this stuff up as they go along?"

[Riot]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

DRF's Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) tweets:

Matz: "Jesus, do they make this stuff up as they go along?"

LOL - Matz was an international Olympic-level rider for years. He knows all about strict drug testing, rules filled with minutia, horse access limitations, quarantines, permitted medications and withdrawal times, etc. Hard to unimpress someone that's used to this sort of thing. But they've done it.

Maybe the TB world could take some lessons from those that are further ahead in the drug testing game. But I'm glad to see them do this. I'm sure they sat down with O'Neill and said, "Don't you DARE test positive and ruin our TC"

[Cannon Shell]

While the regulations are a bit over the top this is really a non-issue for the most part.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

So a horse must be shipped to Belmont three days before the race in order to participate? Lots of trainers ship closer to a race, and sometimes even the morning of a given race.

They were required to be on the Churchill grounds I believe the same 3 days prior to the Kentucky Derby, I don't recall anyone complaining then.

[TouchOfGrey]

Originally Posted by pointman

They were required to be on the Churchill grounds I believe the same 3 days prior to the Kentucky Derby, I don't recall anyone complaining then.

The point is that NY is changing the rules late in the game.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

The point is that NY is changing the rules late in the game.

And not telling people who might need to know (i.e., Matz) about it.

[slotdirt]

I was just envisioning this happening in 2004 and Smarty Jones and John Servis being denied entry to the Belmont grounds because they shipped up from Philly on the Thursday before the race, police escort and all.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

The point is that NY is changing the rules late in the game.

I guess I have missed the protocol as to the notice the State Racing and Wagering Board has to give participants in a race. Please enlighten me what the deadline is.

Actually, the point is that the Racing and Wagering Board is taking actions not out of the actual concerns they say, but in reaction to all that has happened with NYRA. But complaining about horses being on the grounds 3 days out when they have given 10 days notice is just looking for something to complain about IMO.

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by TouchOfGrey

The point is that NY is changing the rules late in the game.

bull chit.

[Gaelic Storm]

This feels like John Sabini, the head of the Racing and Wagering Board is trying to show Cuomo he has the stuff to be the new president of NYRA.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Gaelic Storm

This feels like John Sabini, the head of the Racing and Wagering Board is trying to show Cuomo he has the stuff to be the new president of NYRA.

John Sabini is auditioning for his next job (which won't be NYRA President) in the horse business, after the NYSRWB is disbanded in the fall in favor of Governor Cuomo's new gaming commission.

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

John Sabini is auditioning for his next job (which won't be NYRA President) in the horse business, after the NYSRWB is disbanded in the fall in favor of Governor Cuomo's new gaming commission.

God forbid someone does the right thing

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by pointman

They were required to be on the Churchill grounds I believe the same 3 days prior to the Kentucky Derby, I don't recall anyone complaining then.

Really? I'd never heard that.

The difference there is that lots of trainers are based on places like New York or Maryland where shipping from places like Fair Hill even the day of a race is pretty commonplace.

[pointman]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Really? I'd never heard that.

The difference there is that lots of trainers are based on places like New York or Maryland where shipping from places like Fair Hill even the day of a race is pretty commonplace.

People don't ship to Churchill from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana and other places in the Northeast on the day of the race? It is not on the other side of the Rockies from those places you know.

[slotdirt]

Not on Derby day at least.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Really? I'd never heard that.

The difference there is that lots of trainers are based on places like New York or Maryland where shipping from places like Fair Hill even the day of a race is pretty commonplace.

I think was is new this year because they added AE's - if you weren't on the grounds for the draw - you were out and then the AE's could draw in, provided they were on the grounds... or something like that.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

I think was is new this year because they added AE's - if you weren't on the grounds for the draw - you were out and then the AE's could draw in, provided they were on the grounds... or something like that.

The Wednesday mandate wasn't new. Been that way awhile.

[parsixfarms]

I know I'll sleep better.

Seriously, rather than putting all these additional rules in place, they ought to enforce the rules they already have on the books. My understanding is that on Saturday, a horse was announced all day (during changes and on scroll) as running with an aluminum pad on, showed up at the paddock without that footwear, and was nevertheless allowed to run.