Eight Belles & Proud Spell

[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.

[Danzig]

i don't see a sudden influx of fillies being entered. hell, it's been the rule for years, and it hasn't happened. it's allowed, he's using it to his advantage.
to be honest, the ONLY ones who will complain if they scratch after entering, will be the owners and trainers of the two left out. the 18 remaining won't mind one bit!
like i said, the easiest answer is an ae list. why you can't have it in racing, except here, i don't know.
if the complaint is restricted earnings, then 2 yo earnings need to be excluded as well.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i don't see a sudden influx of fillies being entered. hell, it's been the rule for years, and it hasn't happened. it's allowed, he's using it to his advantage.
to be honest, the ONLY ones who will complain if they scratch after entering, will be the owners and trainers of the two left out. the 18 remaining won't mind one bit!
like i said, the easiest answer is an ae list. why you can't have it in racing, except here, i don't know.
if the complaint is restricted earnings, then 2 yo earnings need to be excluded as well.

It's a loophole, and a loophole that hasn't been exploited often because people have had respect for the Derby and not treated it as a race you scratch out of if you get a bad post position. Now it is being exploited and the loophole needs to be closed or it is just going to abused more and more each year as it becomes more accepted.

[dylbert]

Many thoughts, ideas, issues, and complaints have been aired on this thread, this forum, and other forums about Kentucky Derby this year.

The primary fact remains that Churchill Downs makes the rules. CD will continue to use rules that work for them. If 20-horse race handle is $118 million or 18-horse race handle is $118 million, does CD care? NOPE.

Horseplayers can continue to discuss and attempt to influence CD. However, changing the course of a glacier may be simpler task than changing selection process for Kentucky Derby.

Personally, I would favor field size reduction. Smaller field such as fourteen starters would eliminate some of the inequities of 20-horse field. I know of no other North American race that has 20 starters. Bad posts, chaos, bad racing luck, tiring horses, and other factors take away from true competition.

Is real champion going to emerge from 2008 Derby? Or is "son of Giacomo" going to clunk up at the wire? The answer arrives during most exciting two minutes in sports on first Saturday in May.

[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-