Concerning the 10th race at Del Mar today, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf: Prior to the start of the race, #1 Modern Games (IRE) reared up and hit the back of the gate; #2 Albahr (GB) flipped over and became lodged underneath the starting gate. The scratch of #2 Albahr was relayed to the stewards and that horse was taken out of the wagering pools. Albahr appears uninjured. The veterinary staff then relayed a second scratch of #1 Modern Games (IRE) to the stewards based on initial observation. Upon confirmation that #1 also was to be scratched, the stewards removed the horse from the wagering pools. After further discussion among the regulatory veterinarians at the gate and after further observation of #1 Modern Games, that horse was declared fit and racing sound, and this fact was relayed to the stewards, who pursuant to CHRB rule 1974 allowed the horse to run for purse money only. The CHRB and the Breeders’ Cup are reviewing the current veterinary and scratching procedures to ensure that this does not occur going forward.
Rule No. 1974: Wageing Interest.
(a) A wagering interest is any one horse in a race.
(b) If a horse is removed from the wagering pool due to a totalizator error, or due to any other error, and neither the trainer nor the owner is at fault, the horse shall start in the race as a non-wagering interest for the purse only and shall be disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes.
(c) If a horse is removed from the wagering pool to start in a race as a non-wagering interest for purse only and is disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes, the circumstances shall be announced over the public address system at the time the action is taken and thereafter to adequately inform the public. The racing association shall also inform off-track wagering outlets at the time such action is taken.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 19420, 19440, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 19562, Business and Professions Code.