jockey holds back horse

Jockey Gregory Romero reportedly has been suspended 30 days and fined $1,000 by the Belterra Park stewards two days after he eased up on a 9-1 mount that led in the shadow of the wire but ended up getting beaten by a neck by a more assertively ridden favorite. Romero's penalty was first reported Friday afternoon by the Paulick Report. On Thursday, Belterra steward Ron Herbstreit declined an opportunity to comment to TDN about the matter. A Friday morning email TDN sent to Ohio State Racing Commission executive director Christopher...

The stewards at Belterra Park have asked jockey Gregory Romero to explain why he appeared to not persevere with his mount while on the lead in the final few jumps before the finish of Wednesday's fourth race there, which led to that 9-1 horse getting beaten by a neck by the hard-charging 6-5 favorite. Reached by phone just prior to the start of Thursday's races, the three Belterra stewards--Ron  Herbstreit, Vincent Clark, and Raina Paucar--told TDN in a speaker phone call that they would not discuss what was said at...