Red Card for Stewards

“Well, if Bayern holds on to win, he will come down,” I said just a few seconds into the running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday at Santa Anita. 

The colt had veered sharply inward at the start and clearly interfered with horses. 

“Who is that?” I screamed only moments later. “There is another foul.” 

That second bit of mayhem was caused by Toast of New York, who came crashing toward the rail and also caused interference. 

Bayern did win, and Toast of New York finished second. But incomprehensibly, neither was disqualified. After a lengthy inquiry, somehow stewards Scott Chaney, Tom Ward and Kim Sawyer unanimously voted to leave the order of finish 
intact. 

The stewards later said they in fact agreed there was interference, but did not change the order of finish because it could not be assumed the bumping incidents caused any horse a chance to improve their placing. 

Could not be assumed? 

Really? 

Any handicapper could assume the interference affected the outcome of the race. 

Any racing fan could assume the interference affected the outcome of the race. 

The stewards referred to a bad California Horse Racing Board rule in a statement, saying, “After speaking with patrol judges and riders involved, it was our unanimous decision that, pursuant to CHRB Rule 1699, the incident occurred in a part of the race where the horses interfered with were not cost the opportunity to place where they reasonably expected to finish.” 

So, if a foul happens at the start of a race it is OK, but if it happens in the stretch it is not OK. 

No one can think that makes sense. 

Here is what the official chart of the race said: 

“BAYERN broke inward bumping SHARED BELIEF and also forcing that rival into MORENO, cleared after a sixteenth of a mile and was guided to the rail, set the pace under a light hold, was called upon leaving the five sixteenths marker, met oncoming challenges from TOAST OF NEW YORK and CALIFORNIA CHROME near the sixteenth marker, wandered outward a bit under left handed rousing and dug in gamely to prevail by the slimmest of margins. TOAST OF NEW YORK angled over soon after the break putting SHARED BELIEF in close quarters and bumping MORENO, straightened and stalked the winner just out from the inside, ranged up outside that one heading towards the sixteenth pole, continued gamely between rivals and just missed.” 

Maybe in the future, at least in California, the chartcallers should not refer to what happens at the start of a race, since the stewards have deemed that part of a race to be unimportant. 

Just like Bayern, Moreno was committed to the lead. Bayern had the lead at the first call in his last three starts; Moreno in three of his prior four outings. 

One can assume, unless of course you happen to be a California steward, that when Moreno was bumped hard at the start, it caused him to not make the lead, which cost him “the opportunity to place” where he reasonably expected to finish. 

Previously unbeaten Shared Belief did not need the lead, but he was bumped once and was forced to steady once. His connections have the right to think their horse deserved a clean run. 

And, one can reasonably assume that had Shared Belief not been interfered with twice the first time down the stretch he might have finished in a more favorable position. 
Jockey Martin Garcia, who rode Bayern, said his mount broke straight. 

One can only assume he was thinking of some other race on some other day. 

Bob Baffert, who trains Bayern, said those things happen at the start of races. 

Baffert is right, but that is why we have stewards. So when those things happen, the judges represent the best interests of the betting public and make tough, and often unpopular, rulings. 

The California Horse Racing Board should review its idiotic rules. 

The Breeders’ Cup should be apologetic to the public, like when a league reviews a game and issues a statement saying its officials blew a call. They can’t do anything about it but at least they recognize the error and acknowledge it. 
Racing, as an industry, should wonder why on one of its biggest days, so many of its loyal fans are left shaking their heads in disbelief at what they have witnessed. 

Moreno finished last. Bayern and Toast of New York should have been placed in a dead-heat for last behind him. California Chrome, beaten a nose and neck, should have been elevated to first, followed by Shared Belief and Tonalist. 
Bayern is named for the Bayern Munich soccer club. 

Stewards Scott Chaney, Tom Ward and Kim Sawyer should be given red cards. 

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