Gomez on Wait A While

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

If she is running in a wagering event, it should be the responsibility of the jockey to get the maximum effort out of her. In a perfect world, if the horse wasn't injured or compromised physically, Gomez should get a suspension.

(and I didn't wager on the race)

I disagree. It is the responsibility of the jockey to do what is right for the owners of the multi-million dollar piece of horse flesh he is riding. Bettors know that the risk of betting a top horse to show is that if it isn't in contention to win it will not be pushed hard through the line. If they don't then they are very naive as to the realities of the business of this sport. We know fully well that horses are cranked up for specific races and factor that into capping. Do you suggest we suspend any trainer for entering a horse that isn't fully cranked up because it is a wagering event?

[golfer]

YES!! It would certainly make handicapping an easier proposition, and take the guesswork/insider information out of "trainer intent" Seriously, I don't mind losing if my horse is not as good as some others, or has a bad day, for whatever reason... but I do have a problem with a horse that gets a "no chance/no effort" trip. Unfortunately, I see that far too often, and my paranoia leads me to think that some insiders were privy to information that I was not.

See racing in Australia is different. In America we don't give a **** about the gambler. Oh that precious racehorse. Please don't whip him and try to get into the money...he could spontaneously combust!!

It's ridiculous and the connections should be suspended and fined. If I cared about the breeding aspect of the game i'd go to the nearest farm and watch the action. What these people are getting away with is fraud. Plain and simple.

Disclaimer: I did not bet the race but saw the replay.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

See racing in Australia is different. In America we don't give a **** about the gambler. Oh that precious racehorse. Please don't whip him and try to get into the money...he could spontaneously combust!!

It's ridiculous and the connections should be suspended and fined. If I cared about the breeding aspect of the game i'd go to the nearest farm and watch the action. What these people are getting away with is fraud. Plain and simple.

Disclaimer: I did not bet the race but saw the replay.

Like 90+% of the races out there are non-stakes races with the animals being treated exactly like you want. Why bet the stakes races if that is the way you want it to be? There needs to be somewhere that these owners can run their valuable horses without them being treated like they are nothing more than a vehicle to gamble on or else there is no reason for them to keep them on the track and out of the breeding shed.

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Like 90+% of the races out there are non-stakes races with the animals being treated exactly like you want. Why bet the stakes races if that is the way you want it to be? There needs to be somewhere that these owners can run their valuable horses without them being treated like they are nothing more than a vehicle to gamble on or else there is no reason for them to keep them on the track and out of the breeding shed.

There is somewhere they can run these valuable horses without using them too harshly. It's called the morning workout. It's fraudulent to enter them in a stakes race and not attempt to win the race or even place. Those pussies cost alot of people money yesterday.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

There is somewhere they can run these valuable horses without using them too harshly. It's called the morning workout. It's fraudulent to enter them in a stakes race and not attempt to win the race or even place. Those pussies cost alot of people money yesterday.

Oh great, just what I wanted, more top horses working and less racing. The Baffert approach.

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Oh great, just what I wanted, more top horses working and less racing. The Baffert approach.

Good point.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by golfer

YES!! It would certainly make handicapping an easier proposition, and take the guesswork/insider information out of "trainer intent" Seriously, I don't mind losing if my horse is not as good as some others, or has a bad day, for whatever reason... but I do have a problem with a horse that gets a "no chance/no effort" trip. Unfortunately, I see that far too often, and my paranoia leads me to think that some insiders were privy to information that I was not.

All these restrictions might improve wagering a little bit but I doubt they would have more than a minimal effect on handle. I highly doubt anyone is quitting wagering because Gomez didn't abuse Wait a While a couple more times. The only effect it would have is to discourage trainers from entering their horses in anything but the biggest races. And that is the exact thing that this sport should be trying to avoid.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I disagree. It is the responsibility of the jockey to do what is right for the owners of the multi-million dollar piece of horse flesh he is riding. Bettors know that the risk of betting a top horse to show is that if it isn't in contention to win it will not be pushed hard through the line. If they don't then they are very naive as to the realities of the business of this sport. We know fully well that horses are cranked up for specific races and factor that into capping. Do you suggest we suspend any trainer for entering a horse that isn't fully cranked up because it is a wagering event?

We should have stewards that make these calls and dole out proper punishment. I believe the jockey's responsibility is not with the owner at all once the starting gate opens, it is with the racing authority and bettor. If it is a prep race, then there should be a stewards announcement and the bettors can do what they will with the information. In the end, regardless of how much an animal's supposed worth is, it is just a number that has been wagered on when they open the gates. You can't give free passes to "good" horses.

[horseofcourse]

More duplicity on these boards, I can't tell you how many times I have read criticism of jockeys beating animals down the stretch when they have no chance...even Graham I read was criticised by one for whipping Sumwonlovesyou Wednesday. Now Gomez sits chilly on Wait A While without a chance to win and the opposite criticism takes a fever pitch. Simple answer...if you don't want to lose money...don't bet. Should Santos have been suspended for a year for pulling up the BC distaff favorite last year or are serious leg injuries good enough reason to not ride her hard??? Would jockeys avoid punishment for that?? Where do you draw the line?? After all, he didn't ride her hard after the injury and people bet enough money on her to make her the favorite. Should he be punished??

This thread is riduculous.

[PPerfectfan]

If Wait A While was laboring on the surface, why beat the hell out of her when she is running in place to start with? I am all for a jockey making the effort with a mount but I will tell you that if one of my horses was beat, skating all over the surface, and my jock was beating the hell out of them, they would have more to fear from me than Peta!!

[philcski]

I for one thought she was going to be very tough to beat in the race, and just didn't take to the poly at ALL. She looked terrible, there was no reason to whip her or even ride her hard.