hollywood cancels last 3

[Calzone Lord]

Hesz is up in arms ...

Because the final threes races being canceled was the big news at Hollywood Park today, there wasn't a lot of buzz about it, but the horse player got screwed again.

Es Luna, beaten 66 1/4 lengths in his only start, returned off a seven month + layoff for the sneaky Silverio Martinez barn. When the horses were nearing the gate for race four (The opener of the Pick Six in which there was a carryover) and the horses for race five were leaving the receiving barn, Es Luna was suddenly announced as a first time gelding. Obviously there was NO time for a handicapper/player who considers that information pivotal to adjust his bet.

Needless to say, Es Luna comes from off the pace, gets up near the wire to the tune of $58.60....

Will Silverio Martinez get fined the $1000 penalty for failure to announce a first time gelding in orderly fashion, yes. Did the gambler/horseplayer get totally screwed?? YES!!!

I believe in the future, If a horse has NOT BEEN announced as a first time gelding by the time they reach the receiving barn and it has to be announced THAT late, (like Es Luna today), they should be ordered scratched.

Every owner/trainer has been made aware of the first time gelding rule, and what happened today was an outrage. The $1000 fine seems light in review of the payoffs and the money that likely was made by the connections.

in addition, this leaves a bad taste with the horse player, who is entitled to dissect this information how he chooses.

Martinez had 72 hours to notify the stewards, Horse ID or the racing office when the overnight and/or PP's came out that there had been a mistake and Es Luna had been gelded.

The rule has been in place for far too long, and if a trainer cannot abide by it, then his horse should not be allowed to compete.