denny velazquez | Horse Racing Free Tips

Canterbury Park stewards have handed a one-year suspension to jockey Denny Velazquez after a buzzer and a loaded gun were found during a search of his vehicle on track property.

The stewards also issued Velazquez a $10,000 fine.

The ruling came after a hearing during which the stewards presented nine exhibits and heard testimony from Velazquez.

Those penalties were the maximum available to the stewards by Minnesota statute.

The stewards have referred the case on to the Minnesota Racing Commission, which has the authority to issue a longer suspension and a larger fine. The stewards recommended the commission suspend Velazquez for five years and increase the fine to $50,000.

The ruling stated the presence of the gun and the buzzer “call into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing and the safety, health and welfare of the participants and the general public at Canterbury Park.”

The post Canterbury Stewards Recommend Five-Year Suspension For Rider Discovered With Buzzer And Gun appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Denny Velazquez has been summarily suspended by the Minnesota Racing Commission after a prohibited electrical device and a firearm allegedly were discovered during a vehicle search by racing commission personnel on Monday at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

Velazquez, 26, is currently third in the jockey standings at Canterbury, with 20 wins from 90 mounts. Prior to riding at the Minnesota track, Velazquez finished third in the rider standings at Turf Paradise in Arizona, where he won 56 races from 379 mounts during the 2019-'20 meet.

A hearing with the board of stewards at Canterbury Park is tentatively scheduled for July 30. Until his appearance Velazquez is denied access to all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Racing Commission.

Cited in the ruling issued on Wednesday was Minnesota statute 240.25/Prohibited Acts, which reads in part: “No person may: (a) on the premises of a licensed racetrack use, possess, or knowingly assist another person in using a battery or buzzer, electrical or mechanical, or other device or appliance, which can be used to affect a horse's racing condition or performance, other than an ordinary whip.

The ruling also cited Minnesota rules concerning possession of a firearm on association grounds and carrying a weapon without a permit.

Steve May, executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission, said animal cruelty criminal charges also may come in to play in the matter.

The post Discovery of ‘Buzzer,’ Gun Lead To Summary Suspension Of Canterbury Park Jockey appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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