Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

A Day At The Races
by Dave Little of the NY Daily News
Editor's Note: (This was such a good article by our friend Dave we felt we just had to post it!)

It's a tough job being an official at a race track, no doubt, but when we went up to see the stewards after what in our opinion was the incorrect call regarding the inquiry into the seventh race Saturday (at Belmont), all we wanted was an explanation. Initially, none was forthcoming.

"No comment," we were told. "Come back at 11 a.m. Monday (for an explanation). No press is allowed in here."

In the race, Monastic Springs slammed into Bob's Star in deep stretch, causing a chain reaction of horses who were bothered, but most of the damage was done to Bob's Star, the post-time favorite.

Monastic Springs went on to win, but no way could he stay up. But he did. In fact, he could have been placed sixth for the havoc he caused. But the official light went on after the inquiry concluded.

Half an hour after being told we couldn't see the stewards, we returned after some NYRA staff intervention. The stewards were pleasant and willing to talk this time, although we didn't get quite what we were after.

We asked:
Did the No. 3 (Monastic Springs) interfere with the NO. 6 (Bob's Star)?

The judges chose not to speak specifically to the instance in the seventh race, but did say it was possible to interfere with a horse and not come down, in the event it was not going to alter the outcome.

"There were a lot of contributing factors," we were told.

In these types of circumstances, there must be accountability. Bettor confidence demands it.

When interference takes place on the track, it's a judgment call. Stewards judge what they see. Sometimes the final decision won't be popular. But if an explanation follows, at least then the stewards are saying why they did what they did. Who is served when no explanation is given?

When people's gambling dollars are at stake, those people have a right to know how decisions - rightly or wrongly - - are reached.

In the seventh race yesterday at Belmont, they did not have that right.