Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Feb. 15-21

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/18/2022
Licensee: Jonathan Wong, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Late declaration
Explainer: Trainer Jonathan Wong, who was scheduled to start She Said Yes in the third race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 13, 2022, is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1629 (Penalty for Late Declaration–didn't want to run).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Derek Lawson, jockey agent
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Business conduct
Explainer: Jockey Agent Derek Lawson, is fined $500.00 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1530 (Cases Not Covered by Rules and Regulations–failure to conduct business in a proper manner) on Feb. 13, 2022 at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Tim McCanna, trainer
Penalty: $400 fine
Violation: Late Lasix registration
Explainer: Trainer Tim McCanna is fined $400.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1845 (Authorized Bleeder Medication–late registration) of GEA in the first race on Feb. 18, 2022, at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the crop
Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the seventh race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 18, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo, who rode Dream Robber in the second race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 18, 2022, is suspended for three racing days (Feb. 26, 27 & Mar. 4, 2022) for altering course without sufficient clearance shortly after the start and causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/20/2022
Licensee: Jose Luis Delgadillo, jockey
Penalty: N/A
Violation: N/A
Explainer: Jockey Jose Luis Delgadillo having now complied with a testing agreement with the California Horse Racing Board (submitted negative test) is deemed eligible for licensing. Ruling #92 issued on May 15, 2021, at the Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc. is hereby set aside. Further Jose Luis Delgadillo shall remain on a testing agreement as long as he is licensed in California.

New York

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Ralph D'Alessandro
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Poor business practice leading to scratch
Explainer: Mr. Ralph D'Alessandro has been fined the sum of $500.00 for failing to tend to business in a proper manner necessitating a scratch in the first race at Aqueduct racetrack on Feb. 19, 2022.

Kentucky

Track: Turfway Park
Date: 02/21/2022
Licensee: Bob Baffert, trainer
Penalty: $7,500 fine and 90-day suspension
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and confirmed at University of California, Davis (Laboratory No: 210525-424136), sample number E427258 taken from Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 12th race at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2021, contained betamethasone in blood (Class C drug) (fourth medication violation in 365 days in any racing jurisdiction). After a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards Robert A. Baffert is hereby suspended 90 days, Mar. 8, 2022 through June 5, 2022 (inclusive) and fined seven thousand five hundred ($7,500) dollars. Medina Spirit is disqualified and all purse money forfeited. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling. During his suspension Mr. Baffert is denied the privileges of all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Entry of all horses owned or trained by Mr. Baffert is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards. Upon receipt of this ruling, it is required within thirty (30) days to pay any and all fines imposed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Failure to do so will subject the licensee to summary suspension of license pursuant to 810 KAR 3:020 Section 15 (cc).

Track: Turfway Park
Date: 02/21/2022
Licensee: Amr Zedan, owner
Penalty: Disqualification and purse money forfeiture
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and confirmed at University of California, Davis (Laboratory No: 210525-424136), sample number E427258 taken from Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 12th race at Churchill Downs on May 19 2021, contained betamethasone in blood (Class C drug). Amr F. Zedan was present at a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards. MEDINA SPIRIT is disqualified and all purse money forfeited. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling. All purse monies must be returned to the association. The purse of this race is ordered redistributed.

This ruling is pending appeal, more about which can be read here.