Deena Pitman | Horse Racing Free Tips

Indiana Grand’s Leading Quarter Horse Jockey Summarily Suspended

Samuel “Sammy” Mendez, currently the leading Quarter Horse jockey at the Indiana Grand meet in Shelbyville, Ind., has been summarily suspended and is awaiting a hearing before the track's board of stewards.

A ruling dated Sept. 15 said Mendez is “hereby summarily suspended for actions not in the best interest of racing and which compromise the integrity of operations at a racetrack.” The ruling said the infraction occurred on Sept. 4, when Mendez won with three of nine starts – all for trainer Randy M. Smith – including the $84,200 Bob Woodward Memorial Classic Stakes and the $108,591 QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby.

Multiple sources told the Paulick Report that Mendez is being investigated in connection with discovery of an illegal electrical device.

A hearing was originally scheduled for Sept. 20 but has been postponed while an investigation continues, according to Deena Pitman, executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission.

Mendez, who was last seen in the saddle on Sept. 13, primarily rides for Smith, Indiana Grand's all-time leading Quarter Horse conditioner and leading the trainer standings there from 2015-'20.

Mendez won the 2020 Quarter Horse riding title.

Mendez has won with 38 of 138 mounts during the current meet. Smith has 62 wins from 287 starts, more than double his closest pursuer.

The most recent Quarter Horse jockey penalized for possession of an illegal electrical device at Indiana Grand was Juan Guerrero, who was suspended 10 years and fined $5,000 in 2015.

On Aug. 11, 2015, officials were tipped off that Guerrero would have an electrical device with metal prongs sticking out of holes cut in the palm of a glove while riding in the 10th race. After being stopped by security following the race, Guerrero ran off toward the jockeys room and was seen throwing an item toward the track's casino. The next day an electrical device was found in that area. One of Guerrero's gloves had two holes punched in it.

The horse Guerrero rode to victory in the race in question was Stone Toasted, trained by Randy M. Smith.

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Dr. Kerry Peterson Named Equine Medical Director For Indiana Horse Racing Commission

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) recently hired Kerry Peterson, D.V.M as their Equine Medical Director. Dr. Peterson, a seasoned veterinarian, brings with her over fifteen years of experience with equine and small animal private practice and regulatory veterinary medicine.

She most recently served as the Medical Director and Veterinarian of Pet Wellness Clinics, which has nine locations in central Indiana. In addition, her past regulatory experience includes Director of Animal Health Programs for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

“We are excited to have Dr. Peterson join our team at the IHRC. It is essential to have full time guidance from a talented individual who has the necessary education and background to assist our agency in animal and safety welfare. Dr. Peterson will serve as an available regulatory resource in working with racing officials, practicing veterinarians and horsemen regarding current rules, proposed medication rules and assist the commission in navigating the safety and animal welfare issues being proposed nationally. This position is critical to Indiana maintaining the high level of integrity and standards we have built within our racing industry over the years,” stated IHRC's Executive Director Deena Pitman.

In her role as Equine Medical Director, Dr. Peterson will be providing oversight for all Commission related veterinary and equine health needs including testing procedures, compliance, enforcement of commission regulations and spearheading new programs affecting equine welfare. She will be dividing her time between Indiana's two pari-mutual tracks as well as the Commission's Indianapolis office and can be contacted at KePeterson@hrc.IN.gov.

“I'm excited to join the Indiana Horse Racing Commission as their Equine Medical Director. Horse racing has always been a passion of mine. I'm looking forward to working with the Indiana horse racing industry stakeholders to help improve the safety and welfare of the horses and the integrity of the sport,” said Dr. Peterson about her new role.

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Indiana Racing Commission To Consider Sale Of Tracks To Eldorado Amid Staff Concerns

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission will meet next week to consider a petition from Eldorado Resorts to purchase permits and licenses to hold racing in the state from Caesars Entertainment. Based on a redacted report released to the public this week, commission staff have expressed concern about whether the purchase would be good for racing in Indiana.

Eldorado currently owns Pompano Park in Pompano Beach, Fla., and Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio. It also once owned Presque Isle Downs before selling the Erie, Penn., track to Churchill Downs, Inc. and Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland, W.V., which it sold to Century Casinos last year.

While the report from executive director Deena Pitman made note of big promises made by Eldorado to the commission and horsemen about its willingness to contribute to the longterm health of racing, it also raised concerns about the company. For one thing, the report noted a decline in stock shares of Eldorado from their 52-week average and questioned whether Eldorado would continue to invest in its racing properties, particularly if new financial challenges arose as a result of COVID-19 or other factors.

More importantly though, Pitman expressed serious concern about feedback from horsemen at Pompano, Scioto and Mountaineer. Reports prepared by a third party demonstrated a poor relationship between horsemen and track management and alleged unwillingness by Eldorado to repair facilities like grandstand and seating areas and barns. At Mountaineer, the report also noted, track employees were paid far less than average before it was sold, causing staff shortages and making retention difficult. At various times, the track had been short of several assistant starters and had gone months without a track superintendent at the time of a report authored by consultant Doug Reed in February 2020, around the time the sale of the property to Century was due to close.

“Unfortunately, based on all of the information before the Commission Staff, it is not clear that ERI offers the capable leadership needed for the future of Indiana racing. This is not a conclusion that the Commission Staff reaches lightly. As stated above, the Commission Staff was impressed with the commitments that ERI offered in the March Letter. These commitments, for the first time, made Commission Staff believe that ERI was giving serious thought and consideration to its ownership of the two racing permits and its place as a steward of both racing and the Anderson and Shelbyville communities.

“On the other hand, Commission Staff cannot ignore the information in Reed's Second Report. It is difficult to reconcile the 'two sides' of ERI as an organization — one that is promising great things and making commitments to the Indiana horsemen and IHRC to be the permit holder that the Indiana industry needs. The other, an entity that is and has been clearly disinterested in horse racing since entering the industry in 2014 and seems strongly averse to spending any additional money to improve horse racing at its currently-owned properties.”

Pitman outlined a 22-item list of requirements she advised the commission require of Eldorado before approving the sale, including a racing escrow fund of $25 million to be spent over a ten-year period, application and accreditation by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance for Indiana Grand, and more.

The commission will meet in closed executive session on Monday morning to discuss the issue, and followed by a public meeting.

Pitman's report is available here.

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Gabriel Saez Given Exemption From Indiana Rule; Will Be Permitted To Ride In Stakes During 30-Day Suspension

Jockey Gabriel Saez, currently serving a 30-day suspension for what Indiana Horse Racing Commission stewards said was “extreme carelessness” in a June 17 race at Indiana Grand, has been given an exemption to ride in Saturday's Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes and other stakes races outside of Indiana.

The exemption would appear to be a violation of Indiana Horse Racing Commission rules stating that suspended jockeys may compete in designated races (stakes) “in the event a penalty for a riding violation is 10 days or less.”

However, Indiana Horse Racing Commission steward Dan Fick told the Paulick Report the commission's executive director has the authority to waive the rule and did so, permitting Saez to ride in specific designated races outside of Indiana.

The original ruling, dated June 18, was amended on July 2, stating: “Gabriel Saez, having reached a tentative agreement with the Commission Staff, may run in stakes races outside the state of Indiana while awaiting final approval of the settlement agreement by the Commission. Mr. Saez has agreed to add one day to the period of his suspension for each day that he participates in a stakes race. At this time, Mr. Saez has indicated to the commission that he wishes to participate in the following: The Met Mile (7/4/2020) and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (7/11/20210). Per the settlement agreement, the term of Mr. Saez's suspension is extended by two days to include July 22 and July 23, 2020.”

Section 71IAC7.5-7-5 “Designated Races” of the Indiana Administrative Code states: “In the event a penalty for a riding violation is 10 days or less, the jockey may compete in a designated race or races provided the jockey must be named at the time of entry. … For the purpose of this section, a designated race shall mean any stakes, futurity, or futurity trial in any state.”

According to the June 18 ruling, stewards found that Saez “did carelessly allow his mount Justtequilatalkin to alter course into the path of another horse without sufficient clearance, setting off a chain reaction in which the riders of three other horses were unseated from their mounts and resulting in Justtequilatalkin being disqualified from first place and placed last.”

The original suspension called for Saez to serve the 30 days from June 22 through July 21, inclusive.

Indiana Horse Racing Commission executive director Deena Pitman, who waived the rule, did not respond to a message from the Paulick Report.

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