By Bill Finley
A brief glitch in the NYRA graphics package that covered the days scratches resulted in Striking Melody (Majestic City) running for purse money only, by order of the stewards, in Saturday's first race at Aqueduct.
At 10:32 a.m., 77 minutes before post time for the first race, Striking Melody was listed as a scratch in graphics that appeared in the upper right hand corner of NYRA's television feed. The listing of the scratch appeared for about two seconds before it came off the screen and at no other point during the day was the horse listed as scratched. In addition, the listing of the scratch appeared as track announcer John Imbriale was announcing scratches for the first race. Imbriale never mentioned Striking Melody but did announce that the six horse, Caribbean Breeze (Mendelssohn) was scratched.
But what appeared to be an innocuous mistake was taken seriously by the stewards, who withdrew Striking Melody from the wagering. In addition, with the horse scheduled to run as an entry with Our Rosie Diamonds (Bellamy Road), both horses ran as non-betting interests.
Our Rosie Diamonds finished third and Striking Melody was seventh.
NYRA management said they were frustrated by the decision.
The graphics error appeared for about two seconds, as shown in the clip below.
“At some point, common sense has to come into play,” said a NYRA official who asked not to be named.
NYRA officials estimated that the move by the stewards resulted in a loss of handle between $150,000 and $200,000.
“NYRA would certainly welcome the opportunity to fully review the circumstances of this matter with the Board of Stewards,” said NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna.
Braulio Baeza Jr., the steward representing the New York Gaming Commission, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
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