A veterinarian’s untimely suggestion to scratch Modern Games led to a confusing stewards’ decision ahead of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) that ultimately would shift the outcome of millions of dollars worth of bets on the Nov. 5 World Championships card at Del Mar.
Fashionable Video games was the 9-5 favourite in wagering swimming pools for the Juvenile Turf when he was scratched after rearing up within the gate. After it was decided that the horse really had not sustained an harm, he was allowed to run however just for purse cash.
When Godolphin’s Fashionable Video games delivered a powerful stretch run to win the one-mile grass race, he earned the purse for his connections however bettors who had included him of their wagers obtained no winnings.
California Horse Racing Board govt director Scott Chaney mentioned a veterinarian referred to as the stewards to advocate the scratch although no on-course examination had but been performed when that name was made. Moreover, the decision was made beneath the false assumption, in line with Chaney, that the horse had forcefully damaged by way of the gate.
Based on a timeline outlined by Chaney, Fashionable Video games reared up and hit his head on the again of the gate, but it surely was an assistant starter that opened the gate to permit him to exit. He mentioned after veterinarians discovered that the horse had not forcefully damaged by way of the gate and an on-course examination revealed no harm, the stewards allowed him to run for the purse however eradicated him as a wagering consideration.
Chaney mentioned veterinarian Dana Stead was accountable for calling the stewards however didn’t make the decision.
“He’s usually the one who calls up (however) right this moment it was Dr. Chuck Jenkins, one other regulatory vet on the grounds,” Chaney mentioned.
CHRB equine medical director Jeff Blea mentioned that Jenkins was overseeing any incidents on the turf course.
BloodHorse didn’t have contact data for the veterinarians talked about by Chaney and couldn’t instantly attain them.
Chaney contended that the protocols of the veterinarian calling stewards to advocate a scratch—giving the stewards the identify and variety of the horse—had been adopted.
“On this case that labored, it was simply that the flawed horse,” Chaney mentioned. “The horse was prematurely radioed as much as the stewards to be taken out.”
Blea confirmed that the decision was made with out first inspecting the horse. Blea mentioned the visible of the horse hitting his head after which the wrong assumption that he had damaged by way of the gate had been the explanations they initially advisable Fashionable Video games be scratched.
Chaney famous there are quite a lot of veterinarians on the grounds and the communication procedures probably want evaluate. A number of the veterinarians on-site are affiliated with the Breeders’ Cup.
“To be honest, there are many cooks within the kitchen proper now,” Chaney mentioned. “I feel a potential answer can be to consolidate to at least one one who can name in a scratch reasonably than have too many cooks within the kitchen.”
These communication breakdowns would quickly impression many.
Fashionable Video games was the 9-5 favourite within the wagering when he was scratched, that means bettors had extra money on him than another horse within the area. When he delivered a robust transfer within the stretch to win the race by 1 1/2 lengths, boos cascaded from each nook of Del Mar as Tiz the Bomb , who finished second was considered the winner in terms of betting purposes.
This affected millions of dollars in the many pools offered by Breeders’ Cup. Wagers like win, place, and show were refunded (without winnings) and wagers like the double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 that had Modern Games in the Juvenile Turf were not considered fully winning tickets. (Consolations were paid on double and Pick 3 wagers.)
Chaney estimated that Modern Games was scratched from the betting pools for four minutes before veterinarians determined that he had not broken through the gate and had not sustained any injury. After it was determined Modern Games was in good health, the decision was made to allow the colt to race. But because he had been scratched from the pools, the stewards decided to allow him to race for purse money only.
In explaining the stewards’ decision to remove Modern Games from the wagering pools, the CHRB cited a 1974 rule on wagering interests that says, “If a horse is removed from the wagering pool due to a totalizator error, or due to any other error, and neither the trainer nor the owner is at fault, the horse shall start in the race as a non-wagering interest for the purse only and shall be disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes.”
Chaney said one other option for the stewards would have been to not allow the horse to run at all—a traditional scratch. Asked if they could have made an announcement that the horse had been returned to wagering pools and allowed some time to give bettors a chance to update their bets, Chaney did not deny that was an option but added that with the sun going down in Del Mar it may have been too dark to have any further delay.
According to a CHRB statement, Modern Games reared up and hit the back of the gate, and then Albahr next to him in post 2, reacted. He flipped over and became lodged underneath the starting gate. The scratch of Albahr was relayed to the stewards and the horse was taken out of the race and wagering pools.
“The veterinary staff then relayed a second scratch, No. 1, Modern Games, based on initial observations to the stewards, who also removed that horse from the wagering pools,” Chaney said. “After further discussion and observing No. 1 modern games, that horse was declared fit and racing sound. That fact was relayed to the stewards who, pursuant to CHRB rule 1974, allowed the horse to run for purse money only.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race that Albahr appeared to dodge serious injury and had a few scrapes and cuts.
The statement said the CHRB and Breeders’ Cup are reviewing the current veterinary and scratching procedures to ensure that this does not occur going forward.
