Whiteley was what I refer to as “R acing Royalty”, a term reserved for the best of the best breeders, owners, trainers, and riders. He’s a true professional and that comes across immediately. Mike is a knowledgeable horseman and his love of the thoroughbred, Ruffian, and game was evident very early on in our conversation. I learned a lot about Ruffian from talking with Mike Bell. You’ll learn more about Ray later, and why he, as much as anyone, can call this “The Real Story”. I can’t take credit for “The Real Story” either. ![]() Ruffian finished ten races, winning them all, and was never headed at any call in any of them. Even more of a rarity when you consider she competed almost exclusively in stakes, five of them being Grade 1’s. It was all 1’s, a rarity throughout the history of The Sport of Kings. Mike said “ just look at her past performances, all you see are 1’s, all 1’s”. It was so matter of fact, and with such confidence, and just made sense. It was just how he said it as we were discussing her career, and how good she actually was. While reflecting on a conversation with Mike Bell, a man who probably spent as much time with Ruffian during her racetrack career as anyone, the title came to me. This account comes from those who were there, involved, and who loved her and our game as much as anyone. I feel both honored and privileged to tell it as it was and not as was widely reported over the years. I’ve known for a while most of what was fact and fiction. Much was written about the aftermath of that fateful moment in our sport. When finished, you’ll know more about Ruffian than most, and you’ll know what did and didn’t happen at Belmont Park on Sunday, July 6th, 1975. Not only will we celebrate her brilliance, but be thankful for the glimpse The Sport of Kings provided us into what she truly could have become, had fate, in one of its cruelest moments, not stolen her away from us. But, we will also celebrate her brilliance and achievements and recognize the love and dedication she was surrounded with in those final hours, minutes and seconds. The post NYRA Clocker Suspended 30 Days For Altering Workout Distance appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.The sad and inescapable part of the story is the horrible loss and tragedy our sport suffered that day. “I believe I was well within the guidelines of what the protocols are,” Gazer told DRF. Therefore, Gazer said he did not alter the time of the workout, he only changed the distance in order to comply with the entry rules. Gazer did not time the work himself, but told DRF his colleague who had timed the horse indicated that Papi on Ice went a half-mile in 51.33 seconds. Since Papi on Ice was credited with a five-furlong workout, the racing office refused to accept his entry for a race. NYRA regulations require a horse beaten more than 25 lengths to work a half-mile in under 53 seconds in order to be removed from the poor performance list and regain eligibility to race. Papi on Ice was eased in his first start on March 19 after hitting the gate, then beaten 26 3/4 lengths when last of five in his second career start on April 16. However, Papi on Ice needed a half-mile work in order to be removed from NYRA's poor performance list. The 3-year-old son of Keen Ice breezed on May 1, and was credited with a five-furlong move in 1:04.60 on the Belmont training track. The Daily Racing Form reports that the workout in question was that of Papi On Ice, trained by Randi Persaud. Gazer, a 40-year veteran, has appealed the ruling, and a stay has been granted, so he is eligible to continue working while the case is adjudicated. The New York State Gaming Commission has issued a 30-day suspension and $2,500 fine to New York Racing Association clocker Richard Gazer, according to a ruling posted on the NYSGC website, for “altering a published work of a horse to make the horse eligible to race.”
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