Meadowlands, Tioga, Vernon Implement “Zero Tolerance” Kicking Policy

[LVGaryD]

 
Drivers may be disqualified from participation due to any infractions
 
 East Rutherford, NJ (December 16th) - Effective immediately, The Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs will be enforcing a “zero-tolerance” policy when it comes to drivers violating rules associated with the “kicking or nudging” of a horse.
               
This past Saturday, Meadowlands C.E.O and General Manager, Jason Settlemoir along with Presiding Judge John Tomasello met with the drivers and informed them of this policy.
               
Any driver that is cited for an infraction pertaining to “kicking or nudging a horse,” will be suspended for seven (7) days by the judges at The Meadowlands.  In addition, the management at The Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs will reserve the right to disqualify that driver from participation at all three racetracks.
               
The rule exists in the New Jersey Racing Commission Rule Book and can be found in 13:71-20.15:
                “The brutal use of a whip or blunt spur, kicking a horse with a foot, striking a horse with the whip under the seat of the sulky or indiscriminate use of a whip may be considered a violation.”
               
Furthermore, if a driver is cited for a “kicking or nudging” violation at any racetrack other than three properties operated by Jeff Gural, the management at The Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs will reserve the right to disqualify that driver from participation at all three racetracks.

“We have a responsibility to our horses and to the public that we are putting forth the most integrity-driven and safest product possible,” said Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural.  “Regardless of the debate that has been ongoing related to this issue, as far as we are concerned, perception is reality and it looks terrible, therefore we will not tolerate it.  I hope our having to take action on this issue will not be required to demonstrate how serious we are about this subject.”
               
This policy will be in effect when The Meadowlands resumes racing on Friday, December 19th.

By: Darin Zoccali

[pope of vegas]

  This guy thinks he's God..   He doesn't know shit about abusing a horse if "nudging" one is abusing it.Too bad he didn't own tracks 30 years ago... He wouldn't have any drivers left.

[LVGaryD]

This guy thinks he is Barack Obama. 


Perception does not equal reality. That is the stupidest thing I have ever read in my life. My perception is, I am happy that I no longer race horses with people like that having any power whatsoever. I wonder if Gural ever even sat behind a horse?

[Mr. B]

I think it's a bit too much if a penalty, but if the rules state that both feet must remain in the footholds, than I am all for penalties being assessed to keep drivers from doing it.  All games must have rules, and no one is above the rules, and I hate seeing horses win if some rule was broken.

[careless hal]

I think it's a bit too much if a penalty, but if the rules state that both feet must remain in the footholds, than I am all for penalties being assessed to keep drivers from doing it.  All games must have rules, and no one is above the rules, and I hate seeing horses win if some rule was broken.

You are right Mr. B.  Even Gural stated that perception is reality, and in this case he may be right. Even flaming liberals might be right about something on occasion.  We here may know that the horse isn't really being harmed, but it sure looks that way to the uninformed.  Let me kick you in the leg and we'll see how you like it.  That is what they are thinking. 

[LVGaryD]

The perception in Ferguson, MO was that that police officer would be indicted for shooting a criminal who tried wrestling away the officer's gun. The reality is, it was a clean kill.

The perception of the cop in Cleveland was that the 12 year-old kid because he was black, not because he was pulling a real weapon. The reality is,  the kid is dead because he was an idiot, not because he was black.

The perception was that OJ killed Nicole. He would go to jail forever. The reality is the jury let him off the hook.

The perception was that I would walk into the Palms and win some serious money. I lost my ass.

The perception is when I buy a lottery ticket I am going to win. The reality...well reality sucks, like this dumbass statement that perception equals reality. And that is real reality, laddies.

[LVGaryD]

Another thing: anyone who drives over the speed limit is breaking a law too. Are we going to take away their license for 7 days?

So many times one particular left handed whipping driver would have to enter and exit the winner's circle with the horse's left side facing the grandstand because the horses' stifles were bleeding like a stuck hog. He was a great driver, but in my opinion he truly abused horses to win a race.

I will say to my dying breath this is simply ignorant. I really hope the judges start fining guys for lack of effort up there.

[Gazoo]

Gural is a total clown !!

What if a driver from Canada or another track comes to drive in the Hambo or Pace and kicks the f**k out of the horse and wins , do you think they will really care about being suspended for 7 days at his tracks ?

It's getting to the point where people are hoping that Gural and his tracks fail .

[Jeremy]

The perception of the cop in Cleveland was that the 12 year-old kid because he was black, not because he was pulling a real weapon. The reality is,  the kid is dead because he was an idiot, not because he was black.

The cop killed the kid because he and his partner are lousy cops.  No way should they ever just drive up to a suspect like that.  He was even kicked off a different police force for being incompetent

The Ferguson cop needs to be given a lifetime pension and a house wherever he chooses to make a new life.

[CyberChamp]

This has absolutely nothing to do with preserving integrity and safety. In fact, it works against racing integrity because as bettors we expect drivers to get the most out of their drives. What they are saying is that the drivers are not allowed to "encourage" horses to go faster. Next thing they'll say is that you can't whip a horse past the 3/4 marker.

I can't say that I've heard a single person complain about this so called kicking. Drivers, owners, trainers, PETA...no one has discouraged it.

I think the idiots at M1 are trying to pass themselves off as industry leaders by coming up with such absurd rules. This also puts them on the map with free press.

I'm about ready to boycott them altogether.

[CyberChamp]

If they want to address safety, maybe they should rethink these garbage 12-horse fields at 1-1/8 miles. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

[careless hal]

The perception in Ferguson, MO was that that police officer would be indicted for shooting a criminal who tried wrestling away the officer's gun. The reality is, it was a clean kill.

The perception of the cop in Cleveland was that the 12 year-old kid because he was black, not because he was pulling a real weapon. The reality is,  the kid is dead because he was an idiot, not because he was black.

The perception was that OJ killed Nicole. He would go to jail forever. The reality is the jury let him off the hook.

The perception was that I would walk into the Palms and win some serious money. I lost my ass.

The perception is when I buy a lottery ticket I am going to win. The reality...well reality sucks, like this dumbass statement that perception equals reality. And that is real reality, laddies.

None of your points are valid.  I would call them all expectations, not perceptions.

I am glad about one thing  When Gural first burst on the scene, I didn't like him and his heavy handed methods from the start.  I was severely castigated by many for this.  Now , it looks like more and more people are coming around to my way of thinking on this issue.

[beans and weenies]

Amen  CH!    You nailed it. 

[RocknRoll]

If they want to address safety, maybe they should rethink these garbage 12-horse fields at 1-1/8 miles. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[pezz97]

If they want to address safety, maybe they should rethink these garbage 12-horse fields at 1-1/8 miles. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

Now instead of it being the last race of the night, Friday, they throw it in as the 5th race!!! No one likes betting that stupid ass race and now they throw it right in the early pick 4 and to end the pick 5. Another "great" idea by the biggest idiot in harness racing......