Desormeaux needs to be gone

[Kasept]

DMR: Stewards vote 2-1 for no fine or suspension for Desormeaux
Jay Privman , Del Mar , 2015-11-08 - DRF Live Posted : 5hrs 13mins ago

Jockey Kent Desormeaux will not be fined nor suspended for his ride aboard in Saturday's fourth race, in which favored WHAT A VIEW was caught right on the wire with Desormeaux, to some observers, appearing to stop riding aggressively before the finish and then rising in the saddle as the horses got to the finish.

In a majority decision, Del Mar stewards Kim Sawyer and Tom Ward voted for no penalty, while steward Scott Chaney dissented, believing a penalty was warranted. They made their opinions known on Sunday afternoon after meeting with Desormeaux in the morning.

"We had Kent in, went over the video extensively, and did not feel there was enough evidence on the video" to penalize, said Ward, who said he believed the pan shot of the race showed What A View trying to pull himself up at the sixteenth pole after making the lead.

Sawyer agreed there should be no sanction, saying she believed Desormeaux's testimony that What A View was trying to "get out."

"He felt he was doing all he could," Sawyer said.

Sawyer said Desormeaux said that, in hindsight, he wished he had hit What A View once left-handed.

Sawyer also said Desormeaux was reminded about his past transgressions in matters such as this. He has been cited going back more than 20 years for not riding to the finish.

Chaney did not agree with his colleagues. "You win some, you lose some," he said.

Chaney said that the minutes filed to the California Horse Racing Board would reflect the different opinions of the stewards on this incident.