Weekly Rulings – Apr. 26 – May 2

Apr. 26 – May 2

   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: 05/01/2022
Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey
Penalty: $1,500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $1,500 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–second offense in the last 60 days) during the eleventh race (Charlie Whittingham Stakes) at Santa Anita Park on April 30, 2022.

FLORIDA
The following was reported on the Association for Racing Commissioners International's recent rulings website (hence the reporting delay).

Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 03/15/2022
Licensee: Gerald Brooks, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: FINAL ORDER # 2022-001778 – f.s. 550.2415 VIOLATION = XYLAZINE. $1000 FINE IMPOSED AND DUE 4/14/22. “REGAL CHANT”

Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 04/14/2022
Licensee: Gerald Brooks, trainer
Penalty: N/A
Violation: Appeal of medication violation
Explainer:  RE: 2022-GP-20 – Appeal Submitted 4/14/2022 – NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL filed with First DCA.

NEW YORK

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 04/28/2022
Licensee: Keith Doleshel, trainer
Penalty: $2,000 fine
Violation: Unauthorized participation of horse
Explainer: Mr. Keith Doleshel is hereby fined the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars for allowing the unauthorized participation of Horse (Soaring Mist) on February 19th 2022 race 9 and again on March 25th 2022 race 1.

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 04/28/2022
Licensee: Michael Miceli, owner-trainer-exercise rider
Penalty: Thirty-day suspension and $2,500 fine
Violation: Joint injection too close to a race, according to the DRF
Explainer: Mr. Michael Miceli is hereby suspended thirty (30) calendar days May 8th 2022 through June 6th 2022 inclusive and fined the sum of two thousand five hundred ($2,500) dollars, this for failing to follow New York State Gaming Commission code rules and regulations pertaining to Horse Cover Photo which raced on March 13th 2022. The above matter has been referred to the commission. Ordered that during your period of suspension , you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privilages and use of the grounds for all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privilages of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by any individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension; or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advise or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses.

Read more about the issue here.

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 04/30/2022
Licensee: John Servis, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Administrative error necessitating scratch
Explainer: Mr. John T. Servis has been fined the sum of five hundred $500 dollars for failing to tend to business in a proper manner necessitating a late scratch at Belmont Park in the tenth race on April 30th 2022.

KENTUCKY
The following rulings were not posted on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website in time for inclusion last week.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/20/2022
Licensee: Rafael Bejarano, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Rafael Bejarano, who rode Injunction in the seventh race at Keeneland on April 16, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Bejarano was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Rafael Bejarano is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/23/2022
Licensee: Joe J. Talamo, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Joe J. Talamo, who rode Lapis Lazuli in the eighth race at Keeneland on April 20, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2nd offense). Joe J. Talamo is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/23/2022
Licensee: Rafael Bejarano, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Rafael Bejarano, who rode Notable Exception in the sixth race at Keeneland on April 20, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2nd offense). Rafael Bejarano is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/23/2022
Licensee: Jesus Castanon, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Jesus L. Castanon, who rode Iron Lady Away in the fifth race at Keeneland on April 22, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Castanon was given the option and chose to serve a suspension. Jesus L. Castanon is hereby suspended 3 racing days, April 24, April 27, and April 28, 2022 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/23/2022
Licensee: Rene Diaz, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Rene Diaz, who rode Pistol in the ninth race at Keeneland on April 21, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Diaz was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Rene Diaz is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.