Gulfstream fires racing official

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A longtime racing official has been fired after incorrect placings were momentarily posted following the sixth race last Sunday at Gulfstream.

Dave Zenner, one of two placing judges on duty when the error occurred, confirmed this week he has been terminated by The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream. The second placing judge, Mary Peterman, has continued performing administrative work and other duties in the racing office while being retained by the company, although she is not currently being used as a placing judge.

The incident in question followed a turf race won by Miss Munnings. A tight photo for second that ultimately was declared a dead heat occupied the placing judges’ attention for a lengthy duration.

Then, when the complete order of finish was revealed, a wrong number – 2 instead of 1 – was posted as the fourth-place finisher, albeit for just a few minutes. The error was quickly corrected, although it has not been announced whether Gulfstream paid out winnings to bettors on the incorrect superfecta combination.

Zenner, 54, had worked at Gulfstream since July 2015 following nearly 30 years of working at tracks in his hometown of Chicago, primarily at Arlington Park, where he headed the communications department for his last seven years there.