Video graphic mistake forces bets to be refunded at Aqueduct

What seemed like a benign mistake 5 1/2 hours earlier on a video graphic caused refunds to be made to an untold number of bettors and a horse to race for purse money only in the Saturday finale at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

Just One More, who eventually finished second, was shown to be a scratch when the race card was previewed Saturday morning on “Talking Horses.” That is a daily show which the New York Racing Association produces for YouTube, its video feed and its advanced-deposit wagering platform.

Click here for Belmont at Aqueduct entries and results.

“The stewards were alerted to the issue as the horses were in the paddock for race 11 and determined that Just One More, despite not having been scratched in the tote system at any point, would race for purse-money only with bettors receiving the post-time favorite Addagirl Addie in multi-race wagers,” NYRA said in a Saturday evening statement.

Who spotted the mistake and how the stewards finally were alerted were not explained.

Just One More was the 5-2 second choice when track announcer Chris Griffin announced the scratch as the horses were circling behind the gate for the turf race which was carded to start two minutes earlier.

“Ladies and gentlemen, from the stewards here, please note the no. 13 is running for purse money only in this 11th race,” Griffin said without further explanation. The race began four minutes later. The 9-5 second choice Saratoga Snow won, and Addagirl Addie carried her 8-5 odds to a third-place finish.

As the no. 13 entry, Just One More actually had moved into the field from the also-eligible list when four other horses in the main draw were scratched Saturday morning. Co-hosts Andy Serling and Sara Elbadwi put the 4-year-old filly into their superfecta plays with Serling saying she was his top choice.

The mistaken graphic came after another NYRA staging error six weeks ago. That was when the gate was placed in the wrong starting position for a finale at Saratoga. The 1 1/16-mile turf race Aug. 10 was supposed to be 1 1/8 miles, and NYRA officials apologized for the mistake.

Much the same thing happened May 27, 2024, when an incorrectly presented diagram in the printed program was blamed for a maiden race at Aqueduct being run at five furlongs instead of the 5 1/2 furlongs it was supposed to be.