Searches at tracks this past week in Pennsylvania resulted in three individuals from Parx Racing being summarily suspended, according to an Organization of Racing Investigators press release and rulings on the Pennsylvania Racing Commission website.
A Sept. 23 ruling indicated that jockey Edwin Rivera was found in possession of two electrical devices. Pennsylvania rules state it is unlawful and a violation to be in possession or control of a shocking device.
The ruling further stated that in addition to any penalty imposed by the Parx Racing stewards, the matter may be referred by the commission to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution.
Additionally, trainers Miguel Penaloza and Cesareo Marquez were sanctioned in Friday rulings for possession of loaded needles and syringes found in their tack rooms. Only veterinarians may possess hypodermic needles and/or syringes on racetrack grounds, absent a licensee who gains approval for such usage to treat a human medical condition.
The suspended individuals are currently denied access privileges under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. They have the right to appeal.
The release indicated the three summarily suspended individuals had or were scheduled to have initial hearings before stewards early this week.
Organization of Racing Investigators specialists from Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Arizona, Florida, and Kentucky were onsite at the Pennsylvania tracks for the searches with Jason Klouser, director of enforcement for the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, according to the release.
Speaking Sept. 27 during a meeting of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, Tom Chuckas, director of Thoroughbred horse racing for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, declined to name the suspended individuals but did provide details on the searches that took place.
"One-hundred-and-thirty-eight vehicles were searched at the stable gate—one trainer was in possession of 10 loaded needles and syringes. That's been sent to the lab for analysis," he said. "One jockey was in possession of two electronic devices. One jockey was in possession of a small amount of marijuana, which was tested. One owner was in possession of a firearm and marijuana.
"Four barns were searched, which resulted in one trainer (who) was in possession of two loaded needles and syringes. One trainer was in possession of five expired medications."
Three of these incidents led to the suspensions, he said.
Chuckas suggested a further hearing could come before stewards "probably next week on the merits of the case."
Also during the Tuesday meeting, commissioners unanimously affirmed an earlier suspension issued to trainer Juan Vasquez over the summer. Two commissioners abstained from that vote.
Vasquez had appealed the stewards' ruling, in which they fined him $5,000 and suspended him for more than 2 1/2 years for actions they deemed to be "grossly negligent, cruel, and abusive" in shipping a horse between racetracks that ultimately was euthanized due to laminitis. The suspension began in July and is scheduled to run through Jan. 26, 2025.
