What the F&%^&%((%

[kassracing]

Why is harness racing awful? Why is it only going one way, and that way is down. The judges, the state vet, the tracks. Two races last night were utter complete jokes.

1) How can their be any justification by anyone for not scratching or at least baring Van Ashen from wagering in the 10th race?? That was a fraud perpetrated by the track(not the trainer or the drivers). Somebody should lose their license! Or at least be fined heavily or better yet both. If their was anyone in the grandstand they would've burned it down!
2) 14TH RACE. How was that not declared a no contest? Another fraud.

These are two perfect examples of pure and unequivocal fraudulence!

[thegiss]

kassracing said:

Why is harness racing awful? Why is it only going one way, and that way is down. The judges, the state vet, the tracks. Two races last night were utter complete jokes.

1) How can their be any justification by anyone for not scratching or at least baring Van Ashen from wagering in the 10th race?? That was a fraud perpetrated by the track(not the trainer or the drivers). Somebody should lose their license! Or at least be fined heavily or better yet both. If their was anyone in the grandstand they would've burned it down!
2) 14TH RACE. How was that not declared a no contest? Another fraud.

These are two perfect examples of pure and unequivocal fraudulence!

Here is an explanation from Dave Bianconi- (looks like I picked a good night to be out sick). This was sent to an e-mailer, so some specifics may not apply to you. Also, Dave is out for several days ata a Conference, so if you have further questions, direct them to me and I will try to get an answer to you:

As you noted, we were forced to make a very late driver change on the favorite Van Ashen in last night's 10th race. I will explain the bizarre chain of events that took place leading up to the driver change.

While the horses were scoring down after the post parade, driver Keith Kash, Jr. (who had never driven the horse before) was having a lot of trouble controlling Van Ashen. The horse was down inside the pylons and Kash had his hands full trying to steer him out of there. With the outriders help, he guided him back to the paddock to talk to trainer Marlin Smith.

Kash informed the trainer that he was having a lot of trouble steering the horse and asked him to change his equipment to help him. Smith refused, saying the horse was rigged the same way last week when he won. At that point Kash informed the paddock judge that he refused to drive the horse, fearing that it was unsafe.

While Mr. Smith searched for a driver, the paddock vet checked the horse and said their was nothing physically wrong with him. Smith then asked Wilbur Schwartz to drive the horse and he agreed.

Obviously, things didn't work out very well for Schwartz either, as the horse raced very erratically -- head cocked sideways and two-and-three-wide most of the mile for no reason.

Not that it is any consolation for people who wagered on him last night, but Van Ashen now must re-qualify before he can compete in actual betting race again. He has always been a handful on the track, but had never self-destructed like he did last night.

In hindsight, I wish the horse would've been scratched -- but I have seen plenty of horses act up before the race and then perform well once they are behind the gate.

This was an embarrassing situation for Northfield and an infuriating one for many patrons. Obviously, we will do our best to avoid having something like this happen again.

I hope this explanation answers your question. Please contact me any time at the numbers below. And most importantly, thank you for wagering on Northfield's simulcast signal.

Sincerely,

Dave Bianconi

[trackrat]

Let's hope Josh was not fined for refusing the drive the horse. Perhaps the judge(s) should be fined. Don't they watch the horses warm up, for lameness or erratic behavior? Don't they listen to the PROFESSIONAL drivers when they observe and report something wrong?

[kassracing]

Keith, In response to Mr. Bianconi's letter.

I was in the paddock when Keith Kash Jr. got off the horse and was actually the closest person to him. I am using some freedom in this quote, but will try to be as close to possible as I can recollect. "...I will not drive that horse. I have a family and kids and my life is more important then making $50.00...the horse was in the infield! He was unstearable! I will not drive him!" the trainer then responded, (also some liberty being used, but as close as possible and i don't think anyone will get mad for the misquote) "he's like that all the time. As soon as you turn him to the gate he's completely different."

I am not even sure I saw the vet come down, nor did i see the vet look at the horse(but not saying that it wasn't done). Regardless, the vet should have seen the horse all over the track warming up and called the horse in and then checked, not the other way around. If the track was inclined to let the horse race he should have raced as a non betting interest. If the wanted him to race as a betting interest, they should have made it be known to the starter to then call a recall if the horse was unstearable, such as he was. Every opportunity to do the right thing was completely and unequivocally abandoned at the thought of losing on the handle.

Their were numerous egregious errors that happened here. The errors costing many people much money. The only people who benefited from this, were people who bet the bell. $10.00 winner, $9.00 place price $40.00 exacta. All the track did is get on the loudspeaker and announce that the horse would have to qualify after racing erratically.

This is not a situation where hindsight is 20/20. This is poor judgment from top to bottom and the reason why people laugh at harness racing. The 14th race was equally as bad a decision. It should have been ruled no contest!

I also want it to be known, that i did not wager on either race, but if I had bet Van Asher or the 14th race at all I would not have been a happy camper and if at another venue, would give much thought to ever betting Northfield again.

[longtimeplayer]

This unfortunately happens all the time at all the tracks. Last year in Batavia the 2nd favorite in a trotting race never made it to the gate, was on a break from the 3/4 pole around never got on the trot, instead of a recall or declaring the horse a non starter and giving a refund they let it go. Of course nothing was done, the betting public threw away their tickets, end of story. Another horse last year went off as a longshot with a less than stellar driver, wired the field by 10 lenghts and took 7 seconds off the horses lifetime best and 4 seconds faster than his prevoius two races. I agree with Kass, they wonder why the fan base keeos going down I used to go alot more to the OTB and the tracks, not anymore just because of dart board handicapping.

[ocalajim]

Honestly Guys, I try to avoid betting on dead chaulks with last minute NEGATIVE driver changes to begin with. If Josh thought he could win that race he would have taken the drive.
Ocala Jim

[tautog]

I really hate to jump in on this discussion because this is a heated argument but here goes. Maybe 5% (I think I'm being really high in my percentage) really cares or know what happened at NF. In an informal poll how many on this board bet before there is 2-3 minutes left to the race or less? The veteran horseplayer just chalks it up as another loss they don't say I'm not betting at NF. I bet they got less than 10 emails or calls about it the most. Does that make it right? NO!!! But the facts are the facts and the huge majority will not stop playing a track because of a race of two. Last night at Yonkers people couldn't wait till Santa Anita ran their last race so NF could join Meadowlands and Yonkers on the three main screens at the bar. Not one peep about the incident not that I asked.

To back up my point here's a link to the superfecta scandals that happened in 1973 and they were banned for a while. Did this stop people from going to the track? I think the answer is fairly obvious.

www.brainyhistory.com/events/1973/september_6_1973_144827.html

The fan base is going down because there is so much more entertainment for the buck now besides going to the track. I even said to my friends last night I can concentrate more at home than here on a Saturday night. But I like hanging out with people I know so I make the trek.

One more story if I may. In 1970 at Aqueduct I bet a filly named Manta who shipped in from California to run in the Ladies Handicap which was a big race. She went wire to wire and there was a stewards inquiry and they took her down for a very popular local horse named Cathy Honey. I was just a teen but I remember the day well as I was with my dad. Not that it was right but the people rioted and police had to be called in. We scooted put of there it got so bad. There was no reason to disqualify the horse till this day. Did it stop me from going back??? NOPE. But that race still burns me up I remember both horses names almost 38 years later.

In closing you have a guy (Giss) here who will answers your questions honestly. What more can you ask for if this was Yonkers you wouldn't even get a reply. If the wrong will be corrected in the future then these posts had a positive impact.

I'm off my soapbox.

[kassracing]

It simple and understood that incompetence is exceptable, but it shouldn't be. Fix. Don't let it be pushed under the rug. Someone should be held accountable. Simple fact!

[trackrat]

Northfield knows how many tickets were sold on site using Van Ashen. They should calculate the total amount and give away the equivalent amount in free program and/or free betting carrel coupons as patrons enter the facility sometime in the next week or so. They can do it on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, when no one goes to the track anymore, anyway. Just an idea.

[tautog]

trackrat said:

Northfield knows how many tickets were sold on site using Van Ashen. They should calculate the total amount and give away the equivalent amount in free program and/or free betting carrel coupons as patrons enter the facility sometime in the next week or so. They can do it on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, when no one goes to the track anymore, anyway. Just an idea.

I think that's a good idea as a show of goodwill. Let me add to the suggestion with maybe free or discounted Harness Eyes as an introduction to the fans and quarter sodas, pretzels, and puppies. Might bring in a bigger crowd and pay off in the long run. I'm sure the food wouldn't cost management too much even at those prices considering how many people will be in attendance.