Another Confusing Decision from the NY Stewards

[Cannon Shell]

I have got on my soapbox about this before so I will spare everyone the details. But what goes on in the stewards stand pretty much regardless of jurisdiction is frightening. Some dont know the rules, some misinterpret them, some do both. I have been told things by stewards that would floor you. That is not to say that there aren't some really good ones but in general the level of stewardship in our country is quite low.

[Grits]

Correct decisions and incorrect decisions are made each day by stewards reviewing races. We'll be pleased with some, irrate with others.

The greater problem to me, here, in this particular case, is one of culpability, neither jockey admitting his actions as wrongful and dangerous.

It is not unlike two 3rd graders before the principal whining,

"he did it,"

"did not, he did it first"

"did not."

Both get detention, as in this particular incident. Problem is . . . its a much greater risk, a far more possibly disastrous outcome, when your weapon is a 1200 lb animal.

I would imagine a stewards job more difficult when and if this occurs.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Grits

Correct decisions and incorrect decisions are made each day by stewards reviewing races.

Why would it be acceptable to allow incorrect decisions to be made on a daily basis? How long would you keep your job if you made incorrect decisions on a daily basis? Think about how you would feel if you got taken down in the last leg of a big carryover pick 6 because the stewards made an incorrect decision and they took half a million dollars out of your pocket?

[Merlinsky]

I realize some folks like their jockeys as aggressive as possible figuring they can force a win by sheer force of jerkdom. Well as far as Coa's behavior if I were the owner of the horse he rode I wouldn't care that he got up to 3rd. I'd demand he be dropped and if he got mad I'd let him know I don't appreciate 2 men engaging in 1200 lb p*ssing contests when my animal's involved. Horses are in a precarious situation anytime they run anywhere. How does he know someone might not fall or strain something? Put a foot down awkwardly? There's acceptable risk and there's the jockey causing a problem. This isn't pushing a horse to win a head bob, it's road rage on horseback.

Losing enough mounts from owners expressing displeasure would sure have an impact if stewards refused to do their jobs properly wouldn't it? If you as an owner got smoke blown up your butt about it and yelled 'I don't care who started it, you don't pull that crap on my horse!' at least maybe their agent will tell em if they don't knock it off he can't get them work. And not just for a 30 day suspension either. You'd be the elephant that didn't forget unless he proved he was willing to cut it out.

[Grits]

Incorrect decisions are and will continue to be made as long as horses are running year-round on the North American continent.

Do I find it acceptable, no can't say that I do. Do I find it probable, yes, due to the number of races run and human error being fallible. Baseball umpires make errors-bad calls, as do other referees in sports. The difference being, their calls can be challenged. Stewards, rarely are.

As far as your pick 6 question, I know it is heartbreaking, as a friend had the only live ticket late one afternoon in Saratoga, wherein he would've taken down the entire pool, but for the fact that his final selection was dqed by the stewards.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why would it be acceptable to allow incorrect decisions to be made on a daily basis? How long would you keep your job if you made incorrect decisions on a daily basis? Think about how you would feel if you got taken down in the last leg of a big carryover pick 6 because the stewards made an incorrect decision and they took half a million dollars out of your pocket?

[whodey17]

Stewards have a hard job. For the most part, I think they do a fine job at race tracks all over the USA.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why would it be acceptable to allow incorrect decisions to be made on a daily basis? How long would you keep your job if you made incorrect decisions on a daily basis? Think about how you would feel if you got taken down in the last leg of a big carryover pick 6 because the stewards made an incorrect decision and they took half a million dollars out of your pocket?

Weathermen make incorrect decisions and predictions daily.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kimmeastar

Weathermen make incorrect decisions and predictions daily.

And as such are one of the least respected professions in the world. But if they were called in to analyze the weather after it occurred, I bet most of them would be pretty accurate. Unlike many stewards.

[Grits]

Wow Cannon, "least respected" . . . you're a little strong aren't you? Where I live, most of them have degrees in Metoerological Science, and they don't get too much of it wrong any more.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

And as such are one of the least respected professions in the world. But if they were called in to analyze the weather after it occurred, I bet most of them would be pretty accurate. Unlike many stewards.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Grits

Wow Cannon, "least respected" . . . you're a little strong aren't you? Where I live, most of them have degrees in Metoerological Science, and they don't get too much of it wrong any more.

No. Computers do most of their work now anyway, and they are still wrong quite often. Name a lesser respected professional profession? Politicians dont count!

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I have got on my soapbox about this before so I will spare everyone the details. But what goes on in the stewards stand pretty much regardless of jurisdiction is frightening. Some dont know the rules, some misinterpret them, some do both. I have been told things by stewards that would floor you. That is not to say that there aren't some really good ones but in general the level of stewardship in our country is quite low.

Out of curiousity which tracks should we focus on are getting a 'fair' ruling in your opinion? I agree with you and I would rather focus on putting my money into those tracks. Perfect example was today at Santa Anita, the 6 horse in the 7th was a must to come down, a must, and they ruled that way

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Scav

Out of curiousity which tracks should we focus on are getting a 'fair' ruling in your opinion? I agree with you and I would rather focus on putting my money into those tracks. Perfect example was today at Santa Anita, the 6 horse in the 7th was a must to come down, a must, and they ruled that way

That is a tricky question. Remember that there are three stewards in each booth. 2 morons can cancel out one good guy. It is not like every call is botched but the lack of any standards or formal training makes me believe that the situation is not getting any better.