Maker fined $2,500 for Belmont Stakes tardiness

ELMONT, N.Y. - The New York stewards fined trainer Mike Maker $2,500 for bringing General a Rod to the assembly barn late prior to the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

It was determined by the stewards that Maker violated a New York Racing Association house rule that states: “All horses must report to the assembly barn no less than 45 minutes prior to their designated post time. TC02 testing will take place in assembly barn before horses are escorted to paddock. A fine or scratch may be issued by the NYRA steward if horses are late to assembly barn.”

About three weeks before the Belmont Stakes, the New York State Gaming Commission had put out protocols that stated horses participating in the Belmont were required to be at the assembly barn 45 minutes to one hour before the Belmont post time. The gaming commission took no action against Maker.

The stewards had the option of scratching or disqualifying the horse, but chose not to do so because, according to NYRA steward Braulio Baeza Jr., the horse was always in the presence of a security guard.

“We’ve never scratched a horse before for that,” Baeza said. “The horse was never without being watched by security.”

Maker’s tardiness to the barn brought uproar from a couple of trainers, including Dale Romans, who had a heated exchange with Maker as the horses left the paddock on the way to the track.

General a Rod finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes, earning $35,000 for his owners, Skychai Racing and Starlight Racing.