Castellano Fined

[pointman]

Per Dave Grening on Twitter, fined $2,000 for standing up before the wire on Gimmie Credit in Friday's 5th.

Personally, I think that is a slap on the wrist and he should get a lot more for that and his chronic herding.

[cmorioles]

Completely ridiculous. That must have been some investigation to wrap it up in less than a day. I guess at least one of the stewards had to clear his plate so he could close betting early at Saratoga when he sees a race in New Mexico leave the gate.

No wonder this sport is in the toilet.

[Cannon Shell]

What kind of investigation would there be?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What kind of investigation would there be?

Well he said he misjudged the finish line. what finish line did he think he saw?

[cmorioles]

Obviously the answer is none if you leave it up to the stewards. They would rather just brush it under the rug. Shouldn't the betting aspect at least be considered? I don't think he was stiffing the horse, but at the least consider it.

It certainly beats taking his lame ass excuse at face value. The problem is nobody in racing wants to investigate anything. They are afraid of what will be found.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

They are afraid of what will be found.

Someone probably said the same thing at PSU in 01'.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Well he said he misjudged the finish line. what finish line did he think he saw?

Again what was there to investigate?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Again what was there to investigate?

So just take his word for it?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Obviously the answer is none if you leave it up to the stewards. They would rather just brush it under the rug. Shouldn't the betting aspect at least be considered? I don't think he was stiffing the horse, but at the least consider it.

It certainly beats taking his lame ass excuse at face value. The problem is nobody in racing wants to investigate anything. They are afraid of what will be found.

Your assertion would be a little more valid had it cost a placing or there was a payoff that was out of line.

There is nothing obvious to investigate here. If he had wanted to stiff the horse he could have just held it up in the back of the pack and not let it run till too late which would never get noticed because 90% of turf horses in NY are seemingly ridden like that.

I get racing has issues and the stewrds are fairly inept but everything that happens isnt a conspiracy.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Again what was there to investigate?

Plug in any word you want instead of investigate.

How about a follow up question about what line he thought he saw? I'm not suggesting he was stiffing the horse, but I'm curious about what he thought he saw.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

So just take his word for it?

No get the Liam Neeson character from Taken to interrogate him. Lie detector? Not sure in the absense of a strange betting pattern that hasnt been reported that there is anything else to do?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

No get the Liam Neeson character from Taken to interrogate him. Lie detector? Not sure in the absense of a strange betting pattern that hasnt been reported that there is anything else to do?

Maybe not, but if a $2,000 fine is the answer, no wonder people are leaving in droves. Do you really think they checked for strange betting patterns? I would be SHOCKED if that was done.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Plug in any word you want instead of investigate.

How about a follow up question about what line he thought he saw? I'm not suggesting he was stiffing the horse, but I'm curious about what he thought he saw.

What answer are you looking for? I'm being serious.

You are looking for specific questions without knowing what was asked or said. I'm not defending what he did but I thnk that portraying this as something other than a pinhead mistake is a little over the top.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What answer are you looking for? I'm being serious.

You are looking for specific questions without knowing what was asked or said. I'm not defending what he did but I thnk that portraying this as something other than a pinhead mistake is a little over the top.

I'm a curious person. I'm curious about why he stopped riding and sorry if I don't buy the misjudge the finish line nonsense.

But while we are at it let's discuss Race 10 at saratoga on August 15th. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on the ride on #6 Jim Jamm. To really appreciate it, take a look at the head on.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Maybe not, but if a $2,000 fine is the answer, no wonder people are leaving in droves. Do you really think they checked for strange betting patterns? I would be SHOCKED if that was done.

The idea that people are leaving because penalties arent severe enough is silly. There are a lot of reasons why people arent betting but jockey fines are far down the list. So if he had gotten $10000 you would be more inclined to bet more?

Shouldnt every race be checked for strange betting patterns? Jockeys arent geniuses but no one would make it THAT obvious. Listen i'm far from being someone afraid to rail against things in this sport but the idea that trainer suspensions and huge fines would keep people betting or draw more is without merit. If given a better product on the track that was better priced and the entire program was better run the vigilante nonsense wouldnt even come into play. It would go as far as the Ryan Braun boycott did.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

I'm a curious person. I'm curious about why he stopped riding and sorry if I don't buy the misjudge the finish line nonsense.

But while we are at it let's discuss Race 10 at saratoga on August 15th. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on the ride on #6 Jim Jamm. To really appreciate it, take a look at the head on.

Honestly if you spend any time around jockeys you would be far more inclined to buy it.

Like i said what other reason would there be or would he say? "Oh **** I was supposed to not win this race, damn let me stop riding, maybe no one will notice?"

Are there jockeys not trying? Every day. Is that how they would go about doing it? Of course not.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

But while we are at it let's discuss Race 10 at saratoga on August 15th. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on the ride on #6 Jim Jamm. To really appreciate it, take a look at the head on.

He isnt a very good mover lol. Probably feared for his life in there. Would guess that one wont be appearing for C. Brown or with J. Castellano next out. Now if you wanted to be off the board or not win that is more like it.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The idea that people are leaving because penalties arent severe enough is silly. There are a lot of reasons why people arent betting but jockey fines are far down the list. So if he had gotten $10000 you would be more inclined to bet more?

Shouldnt every race be checked for strange betting patterns? Jockeys arent geniuses but no one would make it THAT obvious. Listen i'm far from being someone afraid to rail against things in this sport but the idea that trainer suspensions and huge fines would keep people betting or draw more is without merit. If given a better product on the track that was better priced and the entire program was better run the vigilante nonsense wouldnt even come into play. It would go as far as the Ryan Braun boycott did.

You can't tell me that people aren't disgruntled that bet on that horse. Some might take off a few weeks. Some might do nothing. But in any case, it makes the game look terrible. The amount of the fine doesn't matter much to fans, but it might matter to the riders. Fining him two grand is a joke, even to Javier. You really think that will make him think twice?

The only thing that saves horses racing is hardly anybody is watching anyway. If they were, that would have been all over Sportscenter.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

You can't tell me that people aren't disgruntled that bet on that horse. Some might take off a few weeks. Some might do nothing. But in any case, it makes the game look terrible. The amount of the fine doesn't matter much to fans, but it might matter to the riders. Fining him two grand is a joke, even to Javier. You really think that will make him think twice?

The only thing that saves horses racing is hardly anybody is watching anyway. If they were, that would have been all over Sportscenter.

I can say for certainty that if people are willing to walk away because of jockeys mistakes or poor rides or errors in judgement than we are worse shape than I thought.

If he had cost a placing than no doubt a fine would be far too soft of a penalty. 60 days would not be out of line. But it didnt and that has to be a factor. There is nothing that can keep people from making a mistake. IMO it is a far greater sin for a jock to wrap up late and cost a placing than what Castellano did yesterday. That is complete disregard for the connections and the people who bet the race. I banned Albarado for life for doing that very thing in a freakin stakes race at Keeneland some years ago.

Guys like Castellano are making a lot of money but you cant penalize some jocks more because they make more. One of the big problems this sport has is that a few are making a killing while most everyone else is struggling despite being on the same circuit, under the same rules. It makes it hard to apply standards. In real sports the game checks are much bigger for the stars so a 5 game suspension costs the star player far more than the bit player. But in racing that system doesnt apply which makes it a lot harder.

[Gaelic Storm]

To Castellano misjudging the finish line is like a Wide Receiver dropping a touchdown pass.

This is the kind of thing that drives people out of racing:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...rainer-aguirre