Voided Claim

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) on Monday unanimously voted to change the licensing procedure for jockey agents by removing the long-standing requirement for an applicant to have been previously licensed as an exercise rider, jockey, assistant trainer or trainer for at least one year. The change now allows the stewards to determine whether an applicant is qualified based on experience, background and knowledge. TDN first reported on this restrictive practice in 2020, describing the then-current version of the rule as "arbitrary, insular and protectionist, ensuring that the path...

A hearing officer for the New York Gaming Commission has upheld the voided claim of Battalion (Tiznow) in the fourth race at Belmont Park, May 28. Bella Mia Stables LLC and their trainer Bob Klesaris had entered the horse into the race with a $25,000 claiming tag. When owner Sanford Goldfarb and trainer Robert Atras claimed the horse, no one notified the Klesaris barn and the horse was returned to their barn, rather than the test barn. The New York Stewards decided to void the claim, and Michael De Bella,...

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee (TSC) has revised its recommendation regarding voided claims of horses injured during a race. Originally titled "Timing of Title Transfer with Claimed Horses," the revision calls for the ability to void a claim (by the claimant) if the horse is placed on the official veterinarian's list. Reasons allowed include the horse exhibiting signs of unsoundness, lameness, or epistaxis within one hour of the race being declared official. "Research by Dr. Tim Parkin, head of Bristol Veterinary School and a consultant on the Equine Injury...

Effective Friday, May 28, the voided claim rule at Gulfstream Park has been expanded. "All claimed horses will now be examined by the Track Veterinarian after cooling out, and the claim will be voided if the horse is observed to have bled or is determined to be unsound," explained the Florida HPBA in a release. "After the Track Veterinarian notifies the Stewards that the claim has been voided, the successful claimant has a 15-minute grace period to request that the claim be allowed." Previously, claims at Gulfstream were only voided...