Gary Stevens Breaks Collarbone and Pletcher Fined $200

[OldDog]

DRF:

Stevens did not have an exercise rider’s license in the state of New York, and the stewards fined Pletcher $200 for employing unlicensed help.

I have to wonder if Pletcher actually employed Gary Stevens, or if they were exchanging favors -- Pletcher gets his horses worked, and Stevens gets saddle time. Also, I've noticed that Gary Stevens gets little respect from some here, and wonder why?

Anyway, the bigger story here to me is the loss of Thatcatismine. Only 2 years old.

[Linny]

Odds are that Stevens was NOT being paid, but "using" unlisenced help is against the rules. If you are not licensed in in NY to ride you may not get on a horse on track property. If I want to buy a horse who is looking for a new job off the track, I am not allowed to throw a leg over him (even if my name is Gary Stevens) to try him, even to walk the shedrow without a lisence. By trying the horse, I'm not working or getting paid, but by riding it, I'm breaking the rules. It's mainly to assure that only qualified riders are getting on horses at the track. (I will here ignore the fact that there may well be many licensed riders who can barely hang on and that Gary can probably outride 95% of the riders out there even now.)

That said, had the horse not collapsed and Gary not been hurt, my guess is that no one would have been the wiser.

And Cordero is licensed.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by OldDog

DRF:

I have to wonder if Pletcher actually employed Gary Stevens, or if they were exchanging favors -- Pletcher gets his horses worked, and Stevens gets saddle time. Also, I've noticed that Gary Stevens gets little respect from some here, and wonder why?

Anyway, the bigger story here to me is the loss of Thatcatismine. Only 2 years old.

2yo or 9 yo the horse should of had more time to recover. I just dont understand what the rush is with a 2 yo.

[clyde]

sumwunhere is a sorry excuse for a monitor