Braulio Baeza Jr

The New York Gaming Commission steward at Saratoga, Braulio Baeza Jr., rules with an iron first. Make any mistake, no matter how small, inadvertent or innocent, and you will be penalized, fined as much as $4,000. Just ask trainer Gary Contessa, clocker Richie Glazer, former senior vice president of racing operations Frank Gabriel Jr., racing secretary Keith Doleshel and Assistant Racing Secretary Rob MacLennan. Each one made what amounted to an innocent and minor mistake and they paid a hefty price. There are, of course, three stewards. But the Gaming...

The New York Gaming Commission has made so many bad decisions of late that it would be laughable if not for the fact they keep going after good people who have done nothing wrong. The latest chapter is the story of NYRA clocker Richie Gazer. Back in May, Gazer was handed a 30-day suspension and fined $2,500 "for altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race." The horse in question, Papi On Ice (Keen Ice) was originally credited for a five-furlong workout on May...