Horse Racing Implements New Start & Stall Rule
In a bold move announced Monday, The International Horse Racing Federation will implement a new “Start & Stall” rule to begin immediately across all major professional quarter horse racing series.
Following the lead of NASCAR’s popular “Start & Park”, the new “Start & Stall” will allow horses to start a race, run as little as 132 yards, then return to their stalls for a grooming and hose down. The money they collect can then be used to head to another race with hopes of greener pastures ahead.
According to IHRF commissioner Mr. Ed Grindstone, “Some horse teams can’t afford to pay for feed and shoes, so they go and make the race, stall their horse, and collect the prize money. Hopefully if they do this enough times, pastures will be green enough to compete in a whole race someday. Or, what the hay, they might just collect the prize money with no intention of re-investing it into the team at all.”
As for the impact on the level of racing competition, “The IHRF doesn’t perceive this to be an issue,” added Grindstone. “After all, the “Start & Stalls” will be out of the way after 132 yards of racing. Plus, you know, races are always so much better when all the gates are full at the beginning of a race.”
While horse team owners welcome the new “Start & Stall”, many jockeys have stated grave concerns over the new rule. However, Grindstone adds, “I understand the jockey’s concerns and we’re working diligently to address them. However again, we do believe that over time, the jockeys will come to see how the new rule will benefit their team owners, and maybe even possibly them. If not, hell, what they gonna do? C’mon, really. They’re two friggin’ feet tall!”
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