Are uncoupled entries from the same trainer a good idea?
Dateline: 03/07/97Last weekend saw trainer Richard Mandella sweep the top three spots in the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Handicap with Siphon, Sandpit, and Gentlemen. The unusual thing about this was that although he trains all three they did not race as an entry because they are owned by different people.
In the past, these horses would have had to race as a coupled entry but in recent years the rules have been changed in most states to allow horses with the same trainer and different ownership to race as separate betting interests. While this was done to help keep the number of betting interests higher in each race, it still allows the impression that unethical strategies are being used to get a higher winning payoff.
In this race, Gentlemen's running style was changed to stalk rather than go to the lead which allowed Siphon to take the lead and win the race uncontested while Sandpit, usually a turf specialist, rallied to beat out Gentlemen for second. Gentlemen was the heavy favorite while Siphon and Sandpit were at much higher odds. A similar strategy was also used when Siphon set the pace against Cigar in the Pacific Classic while Mandella's other horse, Dare and Go, came from behind to beat them both.
While it is unlikely that the various owners of the horses agree to cooperate to "fix" the outcome of the race, uncoupled entries still give the impression of something unethical going on. Perhaps it might be better for racing's image to return to the days of coupling entries from the same trainer regardless of ownership.
