A few notes from the Stewards Minutes for Del Mar’s opening weekend…

Nov 11: “We posted the inquiry sign to review the start of the 1st race involving the #6 Infinite Empire, who stumbled leaving the starting gate. In a unanimous opinion we felt the #6 caused her own issues when she stumbled, therefore no change.” Yes, the 3-year-old enslaved animal “caused her own issues.”

Nov 12: “We posted the inquiry sign after the 9th race to review the start of the #10 Azure Star, who broke very slow. When reviewing the video, the #10 was fractious in the starting gate and as the assistant starter was wrangling with the horse, the starter dispatched the field causing the #10 to be left behind.”

Nov 13: “Jockey Tyler Baze [was] in to review yesterday’s 8th race for an incident at the 1/4 pole…. Mr. Baze stated that all the horses in front of him were bouncing off each other which caused him not to be able to determine where to go.”

And best for last…

Nov 13: “[Jockey] Bravo stayed to represent Jockey Emily Ellingwood, who was called in to review her ride in yesterday’s 6th race in which she kept using her crop after she had reached her maximum placing. Mr. Bravo stated that Ms. Ellingwood told him that she was trying hard for the trainer to drum up business and the trainer asked her to educate the horse.” Ellingwood’s “penalty”: one-day suspension, $250 fine.

By the way, the horse – 2-year-old Beskar – finished 9th, 18+ lengths back, with the chartwriter noting that he, too, was “fractious” before the race.

This is horseracing.