Notifications started appearing in early January. “According to the butler’s orders. According to NYSGC RULE 4033.8. Effective February 1stst, only equipment specifically approved by a manager may be worn or carried by a jockey or horse during a race. No changes to equipment (including shoes) are allowed after overnight notice.”
“There are no new rules,” wrote Brad Maoine, New York State Gaming Commission Communications Director in response to TDN’s request for information on the night’s new post. “The purpose of the message is (to) ensure that the betting public has access to accurate information regarding equipment changes in a timely manner.”
But a reading of NYSGC rule 4033.8 reveals no mention of equine equipment and only reads, “Only equipment specifically approved by a steward should be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race.” There is no mention of changing equipment for horses after the publication of the overnight ruling as stated on the Gambling Commission website.
Trainers, representatives of the cavalry and the NYRA expressed confusion over what the dynamics of the rule were and concerned about the consequences.
Right now, NYRA races are drawn five, three or two days before the race, with any late changes announced on TV and the general address system at and off the track.
“The NYRA has mechanisms in place to notify the betting public in the event of a late equipment change,” said Patrick McKenna, a spokesman for the NYRA. “This new rule does nothing to further protect riders and will likely penalize owners for administrative errors that can easily be corrected in real time.”
Coach Todd Pletcher said: “I think there are some issues with it. “My first concern would be about an occasional shoe situation. We’ve had situations where a horse releases a frog and we train the horse in an aluminum pad, and we try to keep it going to complete their training, usually for to the day of the race. If you want to change that shoe, sometimes you really don’t know until game day. Entries in most jurisdictions are getting farther and farther away, so that’s a concern.
Second, he says, “everyone makes mistakes from time to time, and maybe you made an honest mistake and didn’t put your flash on, and got caught overnight, or maybe the racing office made a mistake and do not make notes on the flash. . Looks like there should be a 24-hour grace period.”
Coach David Donk concedes that in a perfect world, coaches would and should indicate equipment changes upon entry, but the system records information by phone now, rather than by calculator with required fields, making errors more likely. be done.
“Why can’t I go online?” Donk said. “Listen, it’s the coach’s responsibility. I may not have a real problem with it, but is it excessive commissions? I don’t know where it came from and why can’t there be a grace period? Common sense says there should be some compromise.”
Donk says he imagines that the suggested gear changes would be changing the flash or adding a track shoe. Attorney Drew Mollica — who has represented many clients in conflicts with the Gambling Commission, including two now — says he envisions the rule not only making clients more likely cause unnecessary scratches and may also result in legal challenges.
“Not changing shoes after entering puts the horse at risk and damages the track,” says Mollica. “Let’s say a horse has a small crack and needs a striped shoe. If that is announced, doesn’t that protect the owner, the public, the horse and the track? But according to this rule, he must scratch. Why?”
“What about blinkers?” he continued. “Suppose a horse runs the next day and the trainer thinks a flash will be helpful, but now having to scratch or run without equipment could benefit his performance because the new regulation says that he has to scratch or not wear them? Who does this help? In a game that already has enough natural mines, do we have to plant more?”
Will Alempijevic, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Riders Association, responded in an email, “NYTHA is currently engaged in discussions with both the NYSGC and NYRA to understand the issues that led to the change. We will continue to play an active role to see if we can work together to come up with proposed solutions for the mutual benefit of everyone.”
