The guys who call references have a stack of calls to make, and who knows how they order that stack. Of the guys whose references they have to call, somebody will be at the top of the pile, and somebody will be at the bottom, and I don't know of any reason that their order would portend anything.
Every word I've heard is that those who clearly busted the interview will NOT have their references called (since it'd be pointless). Having references called is a pretty good sign that you didn't crash & burn in the interview, and you're still in the game (though of course the DB gets the final word).
As I understand it, if a package is ready to go for a particular DB (i.e. all paperwork complete, all references that need to be contacted have been contacted, all records in from previous employers, etc), then that person will be consideredat that DB. If something isn't complete, then that person will meet the next DB once everything is complete, no problem. If the interview was a sufficiently resounding "thumbs down," then there probably isn't much else needed, so that's probably a quick consideration at the next DB & the letter sent out. (Everybody meets a DB, since only they can say "no, thanks" for legal reasons.)
I don't know what the stats are, but I don't think that a delayed DB is a sign of bad things, and probably a sign that it won't be a "quick kill" from a busted interview.
Best of luck!
