As to the rail bias, on NBC's coverage immediately after Johnny V crossed the finish line and they could get camera's in his face Lanerie comes up beside him and could clearly be heard saying paraphrasing here, "what I tell you about the rail being the place to, happy you listened to me now." As they were both laughing to each other in obvious joy.

They clearly were talking about the rail being hot and it was on camera less than a minute after the race. So if nothing else the Jockey's that rode the rail thought there was a bias big time, they were literally laughing about it.