The Worst DQ Ever

[Rupert Pupkin]

There was a disqualification on Saturday (Feb 13) in the 9th race at Golden Gate that is definitely one of the worst DQs of all time, if not the worst. They disqualified a horse that had nothing to do with the incident that occured. The horse was not involved in any way.

In a majority decision, the stewards disqualified a horse named Preemptory for an incident that occured going into the far turn. Here is what happened. There were three horses bumping each other going down the backstretch. Preemptory was not one of them. Preemptory was on the far outside and was nowhere near these three horses that are bumping each other. Going into the turn, the bumping got worse and a couple of the horses were severely impeded. When the incident occured, Preemptory was nowhere near any of these horses.

As I said, Preemptory was on the far outside. There was no evidence that he came in at all. Not only is there no clear evidence that he came in, even if he did come in, he is totally clear. If you watch the pan shot and hit the "freeze" button right when the incident happens, you will see that Preemptory is over 1 1/2 lengths clear of these horses.

So, not only is he totally clear, there isn't even any clear evidence that he drifted in. When horses hit the turn and they switch leads, they usually do slightly drift in. It is possible that he slightly drifted in. I can't tell you fir sure that he didn't. But there is certainly no conclusive evidence that he did. And even if there was, he is totally clear any way. This is clear on the pan shot. It's truly amazing that the stewards took this horse down. At least one of the stewards was smart enough to dissent.

There are plenty of DQs that are borderline calls. This was not a close call. This horse had no involvement in the incident. The 3 horses involved were bouncing off each other like pinballs well before the major incident occured.

By the way, you can watch the race for free (both the pan shot and the head-on) at calracing.com. Just go to "replays".

[The Indomitable DrugS]

It occured at a blind spot going into the turn. You can't tell if he was clear or not.

[blackthroatedwind]

It can't be worse than the Allemeuse DQ. That's not possible.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It occured at a blind spot going into the turn. You can't tell if he was clear or not.

So you agree with Rupert? If you can't tell if he was clear, you certainly can't tell that he impeded.

--Dunbar

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

So you agree with Rupert? If you can't tell if he was clear, you certainly can't tell that he impeded.

--Dunbar

Honestly, his description is a distorted account of what really occurred, and if you can take your " Rupert Rocks " glasses off, and actually watch it, you will see that.

I agree with him that it wasn't completely fair to take the horse down....but to say there was no way he was involved is indefensible. The pan replay on Racereplays shows all the stewards films.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Honestly, his description is a distorted account of what really occurred, and if you can take your " Rupert Rocks " glasses off, and actually watch it, you will see that.

I agree with him that it wasn't completely fair to take the horse down....but to say there was no way he was involved is indefensible. The pan replay on Racereplays shows all the stewards films.

Okay, I watched it. I agree that it's hard to tell whether or not the horse was clear. It's a DQ based on circumstantial evidence. You never see contact between Preemptory and the inside horses and you can't tell if there room for Preemptory to move in front. You see a sharp reaction from the first inside horse, but you (meaning "I") can't tell if that reaction is caused by repeated contact with the 2nd inside horse or caused by Preemptory.

I'll concede that it's not the worst DQ ever.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I've seen a lot worse. It's not really a fair call but I would lay 10:1 he did commit the foul....but nobody can prove it conclusively.

Okay, I'll take the 10-1. Maybe we can find someone who filmed it from a blimp.

--Dunbar

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

Okay, I'll take the 10-1. Maybe we can find someone who filmed it from a blimp.

--Dunbar

I wish we did.

Considering the horse inside Preemptory checked severely just as the turn broke, simultaneous to Preemptory moving from the five to two or three path, it seems like a very reasonable inference that a foul occurred. I am not saying I think that makes it a fair DQ.....but I would bet if you had a blimp shot you would see it was one. There is a big difference between the bumping that took place before this and the steady that took place after it.

I get the argument, and wish DQs were only based on what we know conclusively, but this isn't even in the bottom 50% of mediocre calls.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It occured at a blind spot going into the turn. You can't tell if he was clear or not.

Right. They deemed he is the one who tightened things up just as the turn broke ( 1/2 to 7/16ths? ). It's a likely, and reasonable, conclusion considering what took place immediately inside of him....but can't be proven.

I've seen a lot worse. It's not really a fair call but I would lay 10:1 he did commit the foul....but nobody can prove it conclusively.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

When horses hit the turn and they switch leads, they usually do slightly drift in.

This might explain why so many jocks in the TWO path always seem to end up in the ONE path as they hit the turn --- and why so many horses get pinched on the rail.

I've always believed that horses are more apt to drift in upon changing leads as they straighten out turning for home. This is evident in the replays.