Eight Belles & Proud Spell

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

This is actually a very good thing overall as it will force Churchill to finally change the Derby entry rules. They will either have to start allowing also-eligibles and/or alter the way earnings are calculated and used for eligibility.

Hopefully they will do both.

I've never understood why they didn't allow a/e's..or at least have a "waiting list" , both still graded earnings based. Was there a reason?

[HaloWishingwell]

If they allowed also eligibles and the scratches occur after the draw, would the also eligible then take the outer post or just replace the scratched horse post?

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by HaloWishingwell

If they allowed also eligibles and the scratches occur after the draw, would the also eligible then take the outer post or just replace the scratched horse post?

Maybe if you are double entered, you don't get the opportunity to take part in the respective post draw, but have to take what is left?

[Cannon Shell]

Or change the conditions of the Derby to not allow horses to be entered if they are already entered in another race.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Or change the conditions of the Derby to not allow horses to be entered if they are already entered in another race.

We are slowly working towards common sense solutions which means it will never happen

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Or change the conditions of the Derby to not allow horses to be entered if they are already entered in another race.

Yeah, that seems a no brainer. Once this precendent is set won't every trainer with a top contender enter a filly with earnings and then scratch just to reduce the size of the field?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Yeah, that seems a no brainer. Once this precendent is set won't every trainer with a top contender enter a filly with earnings and then scratch just to reduce the size of the field?

if a trainer hasn't got a colt in the field, why would he care about the field size? jones doesn't have one.
he has the ability to choose, so he's using the rules to benefit. like i said before, if anyone should be in the doghouse about it, it ought to be the downs for not allowing AE's. but they aren't allowing dime supers either-so i don't get the sense that they really care.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Danzig

if a trainer hasn't got a colt in the field, why would he care about the field size? jones doesn't have one.
he has the ability to choose, so he's using the rules to benefit. like i said before, if anyone should be in the doghouse about it, it ought to be the downs for not allowing AE's. but they aren't allowing dime supers either-so i don't get the sense that they really care.

It is all about the precedent being set of pre-entering both and scratching from the Derby. Once that is set then you'll see a lot more fillies nominate to the Triple Crown and if their trainer has a top contender you'll see them do the same thing.

The absolute simplest thing is to have a rule where if you enter any race but the Derby on that weekend and you scratch from the Derby you have to scratch from the other race as well. Also eligibles would be great but they are obviously showing a reluctance to that for some reason. This is simpler and shouldn't inconvenience anyone.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Or change the conditions of the Derby to not allow horses to be entered if they are already entered in another race.

They don't have to do that Chuck. They just have to allow for also-eligibles which covers many possibilities.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

They don't have to do that Chuck. They just have to allow for also-eligibles which covers many possibilities.

Thats true but I dont think there is any chance of them adding AE's.

[-BT-]

i hope they draw hole #1 and #20

then we'd widdle the field down to 18

-bt-

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by GBBob

I've never understood why they didn't allow a/e's..or at least have a "waiting list" , both still graded earnings based. Was there a reason?

I assume one major problem is it screws with their " Derby Draw " though there is a simple solution to that.....the AEs are automatically assigned posts 21-24. I imagine that connections would rather accept the lousy post than be excluded.

I'm sure they also have concerns about refunds, which in all fairness is a novice-fan protection, but the solution to that is to make scratch time for the Derby Friday morning before Derby wagering begins. I would imagine the connections of fillies that have cross entered in the Oaks would know by then which race they are running in.