The two New York Racing Association (NYRA) placing judges who posted an incorrect fourth-place finisher on July 1 at Belmont Park that resulted in NYRA having to pay out $51,717 in additional superfecta winnings were fined $500 each by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) on Aug. 15.
Patrick McKenna, NYRA's director of communications, confirmed via email on Monday that the two fined officials, Sentell L. “Sonny” Taylor Jr. and Michael S. Wilson, are still employed as placing judges, although McKenna added that NYRA “has added a third placing judge for the duration of the Saratoga meet to increase oversight and reduce any possibility of error.”
Lee Park, the director of communications for the NYSGC, wrote in an email that the case is now “essentially closed” from the commission's standpoint.
The race in question, the eighth on July 1, featured the additional wrinkle of having a dead heat for second place. According to the stewards' report on the NYRA website, after addressing the dead heat, the placing judges posted and confirmed to the stewards an incorrect fourth-place finisher. After the race was made official, the stewards noticed the discrepancy and had announcements and video graphics posted explaining the mistake. At NYRA's expense, multiple superfecta payouts were paid to tickets that included both the actual and mistaken fourth-place finisher.
NYRA's website does not list any biographical information for Wilson, but does include a write-up about Taylor, who in 2014 was recognized for 50 years of employee service and was reported to be “one of the longest tenured racing officials in the country.” — @thorntontd
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