Mr. Wallace, being allowed to scratch because you don't like your post position is nonsense. If a trainer enters a horse into a class that doesn't suit his/her talents you are likely doomed to failure in that race anyway regardless of post position and that is on the trainer. As for the bettors, any bettor worth his salt knows that the outside post presents a challenge difficult to overcome and factors that in to his wager. When given a lemon, make lemonade. accept the luck of the draw!! Mr. Palermo taking your chances from the outside posts show lots of integrity, scratching is nothing but sour grapes. Mr. Lane, about the lack of consultation with the horsemen, COSA has rubber stamped this idea, which I think is a good idea. Also you should get your head out of the sand, there are many among us who play fast and loose with the rules and unfortunately causes us to all be painted with the same brush.

What is the purpose of this rule? Who does it aid and who does it penalize?

A trainer who thinks his horse cannot win from POST 9 at Georgian downs, POST 8 at Flamboro and POST 7 at London should feel free to scratch and put his horse into a race better suited to his/her talents.

This represents a more honest approach for the bettor.

You really should focus on building your handle.

It's about time. Many half mile tracks you find the scratch out of the 8 hole. I can not believe as frequent as it occurs that it is because the horse is legitimately sick. Hoping the next time entered will be more favorable.

In the instance that the horse is present and scratched by the judges out of an outside post the said horse should not be penalized with an outside post the next entered start. I see it all the time in the US.

In the instance of inclement weather or other hazard during race day the entire card should be cancelled. The next week the horses should retain the post when said card was cancelled.

First off you should never race a sick or lame horse, or risk your and the horse's safety no matter what post you have, not even the rail. No one is being forced to race, just accept the luck of draw. What's being forced is consequences for not accepting and falsely scratching. If your horse is truly sick or lame you would probably not be fit to race in 15 days anyway so there really is no punishment for proper scratching. Bad weather could be a proper scratch with judges acceptance.

ok, what this implies is the the commission along with race secretaries figure for the most part horses given outside posts at these tracks are scratching on purpose because they (trainer/owner) have no chance in the race of winning or placing in the money. Sometimes this may be true but what if a horse is actually sick or you're on your way, but breakdown or run into traffic troubles. The guys in this situation are actually being penalized for telling the truth. Just means more bad luck probably for the owner in the next entry time. Also if i have a horse that is to sick or sore to race I'm going to scratch him anyway and he will probably be off the 15 day time period anyway.
Also take a look at the poll on the homepage. approximately 35 to 40 percent of the voters totally agree with the ruling. Isn't it strange that, that is the same percentage amount of horses that are going to finish out of the money in a 8 to 9 horse field. To them and alot agree im sure, if horses are classified right(ie conditions drawn up right to make for a very close race, not lopsided, like changing the condition so one horse just fits the class under money) any horse from the race should stand a chance of winning accounting for all the variables (ie driver, weather conditions track condition etc) as well as the trainer "racing them where they belong" as the saying goes.
And as I have just mentioned, alot of it depends on classifying by the trainer / owner. A horse racing over its head, as they say will not place and definitely not from the 8 hole. However it does for the most part take a better horse even with the 8 hole rather than the rail to win on a half mile track I'm sure all will agree.
Also these tracks are setting this rule because short fields bring a smaller handles. In my books writing the conditions on a race to be entered in, so the race is competitive with no overwhelming favorite or chalk horse is a better way of accomplishing the same thing. If owners /trainers figure they got a shot at winning thy're going definitely to show up to race unless there horse is actually sick.

Isn’t 8 days punishment that may affect someone’s decision to drive in bad weather or race a sick horse? To be honest, I don’t believe ANYONE has the right to force a trainer (or owner) to race their horse when they don’t wish to. For whatever the reason. Bad weather, hot weather, sick, lame, bad post, or anything else. The fact the week is gone is punishment plenty. Last I checked, I’ll still get billed for that week. Thoroughbreds scratch for a multitude of different reasons. Including being double entered. Let’s open our eyes and get in the 21st century. This is a business. Horses only have so many good starts in a year. What’s worse; scratching from the outside or getting away last and going around? At least the former is transparent. The word of the decade.

The judges scratch is the most common excuse used to avoid the 7 hole @(wfr) 8 hole @(flam). By using this judges scratch, the guy who scratched out of the 7 hole, knows he can re-enter again next week in the same class, however, if you make him wait an extra day to enter (8 days instead of 7, similar to the vet scratch) he will then miss his class the following week.

The way they are trying to set it up right now is to harsh. Maybe the way I phrased it might be enough to deter people from scratching from an outside post.

Or fine every horse that doesn't show up $100 for a purse under $5K and $200 for each horse who was going to race in a purse over $5K

I don't like the idea of penalizing a legit situation as you may force someone to drive in hazardous conditions or race a sick horse.

To appointed officials, AGCO and COSA.

Firstly as an owner and Trainer why was there not the opportunity to weigh in on this matter?

Secondly, I am on my way to the races and run into a typical snow storm on my way to London, Flamboro. Typically I would call in and report white out conditions and cancel, whether I have the rail or outside post. However, now due to the OUTSIDE POST RULE I continue on and encounter a serious collision, maybe even fatal, can you imagine the excitement litigation lawyers would have with this case.

Thirdly. What if I have the 2 hole and scratch, possibly I should be guaranteed that hole upon my next entry. This whole rule change is a based on the perception of a lack on integrity by the horsemen and I for one feel very insulted.

Long overdue. In a perfect world this should be adopted as policy at all North American half mile tracks.

Wow that's fantastic!