A Saratoga Crime

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ARyan

If it was an error, why wouldn't a state issued arbitrator be able to correct it in 14 days?

How long does the appeal process take in other sports? Arbitration in contract disputes in sports get wrapped up much quicker than these in racing.

With trainers the process may have to be a longer one, as I doubt any medication appeals can be done by a third party testing party within 14 days, but even that shouldn't go on for months and years.

Eibar Coa should be serving his days, he is danger out there right now, and how can you send a message to him now? My bet is he won't take his days till Aqueduct. Is that fair? What if, and I hope this doesn't happen, his reckless racing hurts another horse or jockey, or multiple horses and jockeys. What then? We just shrug it off as nothing when he takes his days for the preceding events at Aqueduct in December?

I am just saying, the process is flawed, and needs to be looked at...

Because in our legal system nothing gets done in 14 days.

Do you really think giving a jockey a week's vacation will make him ride any differently when he comes back?

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Because in our legal system nothing gets done in 14 days.
Do you really think giving a jockey a week's vacation will make him ride any differently when he comes back?

That statement (the one in bold) is not true. While there are procedings that take much longer, there are things that get wrapped up in 2 weeks. I don't understand what the problem is with this? If other professional sports can get these appeal processes wrapped up in a matter of days or few weeks, why can't horse racing?

If giving him a week vacation, or more isn't going to help, then why bother policing it at all? Why not let them all just run all over each other? Who cares who goes down and who gets hurt or worse?

That is exactly the wrong idea. You have to have a punishment, be it suspension and/or fine. If they can choose when to take their suspension, then you are right, it becomes just a vacation. That nulls any effect of the suspension. The suspension process for jockeys and trainers is flawed, and it needs reform. Can you not agree with that?

[fpsoxfan]

Andy summed the whole thing well on the seminar from Siros this morning. "Punish the Jockey, not the Bettors."

[ARyan]

Agreed, but how do you punish him when he puts his suspensions on hold for months or years? Seems to me he is just waiting for a trip back to Venezuela. Take the days, see the family and friends back home, and come back like nothing ever happend. What a punishment...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ARyan

Agreed, but how do you punish him when he puts his suspensions on hold for months or years? Seems to me he is just waiting for a trip back to Venezuela. Take the days, see the family and friends back home, and come back like nothing ever happend. What a punishment...

I dont think that giving jockeys days does a damn thing regardless of when he takes them. It just hurts the people who ride the guy on a regular basis, takes money out of his agents and valets pockets and gives the guy a vacation. What they should do is have a sliding scale of fines with the amount getting bigger and bigger everytime he commits another offense. You want to get guys attention? Take money directly out of their pockets.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I dont think that giving jockeys days does a damn thing regardless of when he takes them. It just hurts the people who ride the guy on a regular basis, takes money out of his agents and valets pockets and gives the guy a vacation. What they should do is have a sliding scale of fines with the amount getting bigger and bigger everytime he commits another offense. You want to get guys attention? Take money directly out of their pockets.

That would be fine by me. I would be for it. I think we finally came to an agreement.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

Andy summed the whole thing well on the seminar from Siros this morning. "Punish the Jockey, not the Bettors."

and really punish "T"