N.Y. board OK's pick 6 rule

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board approved a proposal to change rules governing the pick six at a board meeting on Thursday.

The change would declare any race moved off the turf a "no contest" for the purposes of the pick six if the surface change was announced after the close of pick six betting. With the approval, the rule will be submitted to the Governor's Office of Regulatory Review, and if approved there, will be posted for 45 days for public notice.

Also at the meeting, regulators approved a 30-day suspension for trainer Mark Shuman after investigators discovered that a horse he trained, Askara, was administered a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory four days before a race on Sept. 17, 2003, at Belmont Park. Under New York rules, corticosteroids cannot be administered within five days of a race.

Regulators also rejected an appeal by trainer Richard Dutrow of a $2,500 fine that the trainer received for "failure to attend to business in a proper manner" regarding a scratch at Belmont Park because he filed the appeal after a 30-day deadline.