A few months ago Monticello Raceway followed Yonkers Raceway's lead and instituted the 14-day rule with hopes to cut down on scratches from the seven and eight post positions
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The rule simply states that if a horse is scratched from an outside position its trainer must wait 14 days before the horse is eligible to race again. And by all means it seems to be working.
According to Eric Warner, the Mighty M’s Director of Racing, the enforcement of that rule has cut way down on scratches.
“We have a lot of entries at this time of the year and sometimes when a horse has drawn the seven of eight hole we’d get a scratch notice which shortens our fields and causes us to drop superfecta wagering,” Warner explained. “But there are stipulations where if a horse goes to the paddock and the state vet deems that the horse is unfit to race, the 14-day rule isn’t in effect and the usual five-days-out rule takes precedence.“
Yonkers Raceway Assistant Race Secretary, Bob Miecuna, recently contacted Warner and told him that they will honour Monticello’s 14-day rule so no horse scratched from the outside at Monticello can enter at Yonkers. And Warner told Miecuna the same will go at Monticello for any horse that scratches from an outside position at Yonkers.
Warner, like Miecuna, feels that the rule helps maintain a full-fields and by doing keeps the tracks from losing various wagers because of short fields.
(Monticello)
This rule will no doubt cut
This rule will no doubt cut down the number of outside scratches. We have seen the same problem in Ontario at the half mile bullrings. If you sign up to race you should race.
Having said that, if you get the 6 or 7 post your chances of winning just went down more than 50%. Whatsmore if a driver has a choice he will take the inside post first so you may have lost the best driver at the same time.
I had 2 horses in the Grassroots finals at London last year and drew post 6 in one race and post 7 in the other. The best driver who had been driving for me (and another owner made the choice) to take an inside horse and did a little better. Neither horse got a cheque and maybe they wouldn't have anyway but really there was little chance. I really wanted to sneak that in because I think no finals should be run at a half mile track. What a waste of a season. You spend all that money to try to get there and then draw lousy in the best of fields in your division.
Look at the results of most half mile tracks and watch the leader at the quarter pole wire the field. The solution is increase the minimum distance of a track to 5/8. The fix will be a one time cost. Of course right away I can hear people saying whoa, the cost is prohibitive (or words to that effect). Yes the same people who subsidize races (OLG) should come up with a few bucks for this or lets sell advertising etc but raise the money.
Anyway the rule will do what it is supposed to do.
Good to hear Guys. Alot of
Good to hear Guys. Alot of people still working hard to keep this business going.