[QUOTE=Laurierace;7947492]
Whoever leads the horse in takes them off. [/QUOTE]
That’s what I was thinking too. If the blinkers are just put on with the sides run under the bridle cheekpieces, and not actually secured under the jaw, they can be quickly yanked off. The fact that the jockey wasn’t on the horse tells me that this horse has problems getting in the chute.
I wish there was some actual info somewhere so we can all stop guessing LOL.
They generally just wear the blindfold for a matter of a few seconds. It isn’t common, I have never had one blindfolded ever nor known anyone that did. My guess is it is a last ditch effort right before scratching and they will be on the starters list so they will have to basically get re-gate trained before they can run again.
i know diddly smee about racing (and may get–well, not flamed, but zippo’ed for saying this 
), but i would think that a horse that can’t be loaded shouldn’t be raced out of a gate.
but i know, it’s all about $$$$. 
[QUOTE=charismaryllis;7948177]
i know diddly smee about racing (and may get–well, not flamed, but zippo’ed for saying this ), but i would think that a horse that can’t be loaded shouldn’t be raced out of a gate.
but i know, it’s all about $$$$. :([/QUOTE]
A horse that can’t be loaded obviously can’t be raced out of a gate.
How about a horse that can’t be loaded without using extreme, and possibly very dangerous measures - like blindfolding an ampted up horse on the track - shouldn’t be allowed to race.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7948395]
How about a horse that can’t be loaded without using extreme, and possibly very dangerous measures - like blindfolding an ampted up horse on the track - shouldn’t be allowed to race.[/QUOTE]
Fine with me. Like I said, I never had that problem.
[QUOTE=Appsolute;7948395]
How about a horse that can’t be loaded without using extreme, and possibly very dangerous measures - like blindfolding an ampted up horse on the track - shouldn’t be allowed to race.[/QUOTE]
That kind of horse won’t be allowed to race either. Gate crews don’t have time for that kind of thing before a race. If a horse is reluctant they have certain things they will try but they won’t force the issue. Most of the time the horse goes on in, every once in a while you will have a horse that reacts badly, but not often. If the horse ever puts up much of a struggle they will scratch it. If a horse is ever problematic behind the gate (even if they go ahead and load) they will be put on the starter’s list and be ineligible to race again until they come off the list.
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