Saratoga's Seventh Race Declared a No Contest

The seventh race at Saratoga Race Course on July 24 was declared a no contest by the stewards after a freak incident during the running of the 1 1/16-mile race on the inner turf.

After the field of nine left the starting gate and headed toward the clubhouse turn, crews began the process of removing the starting gate and the tractor that had pulled it onto the course. However, a mechanical problem with the starting gate tractor caused a delay in moving the gate after the field was broken. According to Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, Jockey Club Steward, a member of the starting gate crew radioed the stewards that there was an error.

While this was going on, a second tractor was brought onto the course. The crew was able to hook it up to the first tractor and starting gate and get it off the course.

When the field of 2-year-old fillies expanded, several jockeys began riding their horses again. In the end, it was Towhead, owned by Deuce Greathouse, Cindy M. Hutson and Brett Setzer, and were ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, who was the 4-5 favorite, leading Klarvich Stables' Idea Generation and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

After a 30-minute delay, track announcer John Imbriel told the crowd that the race was ruled a no contest.

"Ensuring a safe racing environment for jockeys and horses is paramount," Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for the New York Racing Association, said in a statement.

All bets placed on the seventh race were returned. Pick 3, Pick 5, Pick 6, and Grand Slam bets were considered an "all" for the respective leg of the bet. For a double that started in the sixth run, consolation was provided.

According to McKenna, each owner with an entry in the seventh race will receive $3,150. The contest had a purse of $105,000.

Horse racing