HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saturday’s first race at Gulfstream Park was declared a no contest after the stewards activated the emergency signal indicating a potentially dangerous situation on the track during the running of the one-mile optional claiming and allowance turf event. The incident that brought the steward’s action came shortly after the start of the race, when Rosco Village stumbled and lost his rider, Jorge Ruiz, who lay motionless on the course as the 12-horse field ran up the backstretch.  Ruiz was removed from the track and the race was completed, with the 5-2 Steel Lute outfinishing the 2-1 favorite Tutta La Vita for the apparent victory. But following a stewards inquiry and short discussion with track management, it was determined some of the jockeys in the race had heeded the warning, forfeiting their best chances by easing up their mounts on the final turn. Ruiz was moving all his extremities but complaining of soreness after the race and was transported to nearby Aventura Hospital for further evaluation.  “The safety of our jockeys and horses is always the priority at Gulfstream and all 1/ST Racing venues,” said Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida Racing Operations for 1/ST Racing. “We’re very happy that Roscoe Village was uninjured, and Jorge Ruiz was not seriously injured thanks to our stewards, jockeys and outriders.” :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Track management said because the event was a no contest, none of the purse money will be paid out even though the majority of the field completed the race. The total pool for the race was $1,267,830.  All monies were refunded.   “I was on the outside and I heard the siren on the backside, but it was very minimal and I think a lot of the guys inside me didn’t hear it at all,” said Junior Alvarado, who eased his mount, By Any Other Name, approaching the stretch. “I was double guessing myself, wondering if there was an ambulance going by on the outside or was I just hearing things. I really didn’t know what to do.  And then I saw the outrider, by the quarter pole, waving for us to pull up.” Alvarado said at the top of the stretch he began to engage in conversation with Drayden Van Dyke, who also eased up his mount, Boston Rose, at that point. “I said to Drayden ‘aren’t those other guys listening, they’re still riding,’ although like I said, I was in the clear on the outside and because of that, I think I was one of the few guys that really heard it.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.