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Weekly Rulings: Feb. 21-27

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.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule

Golden Gate Fields
Assael Espinoza – violation date February 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Leonel Camacho Flores – violation date February 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes

Gulfstream Park
Edgar Alexander Perez – violation date February 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Laurel Park
Jean A Briceno – violation date February 12; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Oaklawn Park
David Cabrera – violation date February 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes, on appeal and stay granted
Hannah Leahey – violation date February 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Tyler Cameron Baze – violation date February 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Ramsey Zimmerman – violation date February 26; $500 fine and three-day suspension, 13 strikes, on appeal and stay granted
Penn National
Jerry Villegas-Serrano – violation date February 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “misuse of the crop”
Tampa Bay Downs
Carlos Eduardo Rojas – violation date February 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes, on appeal and stay granted
Carlos Eduardo Rojas – violation date February 26; seven-day suspension, “accumulated points for multiple violations,” on appeal and stay granted
Track Management
The operators of Turf Paradise racetrack have entered into an agreed order with HISA to fix a number of safety-related issues with the facility including problems with the rail and with the equine ambulance.

The track also agrees to enforce certain HISA-related rules, including the void claim rule, and those concerning use of the whip and correct horseshoes.

The Paulick Report has more on these issues.

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Letter to the Editor: A Tribute to Avery Whisman

by Justin Stygles

The racetrack can be a special place.

In the last year alone, I've been fortunate enough to see some wonderful things, from talking with Barbara Livingston and Sarah Andrew at morning workouts, to watching William Buick win races at Newmarket's July Festival and again at Saratoga. I would argue that one of my most memorable days of racing was a reggae-filled afternoon during the Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational card last October at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet.

Until Saturday.

The Winter Festival at Laurel Park was set up to be a festive race day, complete with activities for kids, Mardi Gras, and $900,000 in stakes races. That was enough to perk my interest. Just a few days before the Winter Festival, 1/ST racing announced a tribute to Avery Whisman. I felt a need to attend. Fighting mental health struggles is incomprehensibly difficult. Attending would be an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself, as they say. Enough so, that I left work, in Maine and traveled overnight to make the 12:25 post time.

To be honest, I didn't expect much. I just wanted to be in attendance. I knew there would be black armbands and a moment of silence. Perhaps a few jockeys would stand in the winner's circle during the moment of silence.

Unassumingly, I ventured on to the apron for the post-parade for the fifth race. I made my way over to the winner's circle in anticipation of the events that would follow.

Turns out I wasn't the only one. Either a lot of people also gathered around to show their respect, or this was going to be a much bigger event.

Before the race began, standing near the winner's circle, I noticed a woman crying and holding a child. I asked her if by chance she was related to Avery. Indeed, she was. I asked her if I could tell her a small story when the race was over. Surprisingly, after the race, she turned to me. I said to her, with tears welling, “Avery saved a life today.” The rest of the conversation will forever remain unspoken, but she needed to know that he made a difference today.

The event was huge! Throngs of people flooded the main track. It seemed like the entire crowd filtered down the winner's circle steps. A few near me started talking about the difficulties of our own mental health recoveries. A grace perhaps, since that was one of the reasons people showed up. If a community of horse people and racetrack employees could constitute a family, then Avery had a very large family–one in which everyone at the track wanted, or was, a part of, if even for a few moments.

It was almost too perfect, then, when Eastern Bay held his position to win easily in this year's edition of the GIII General George. The 13-time winner looked as clean as a wire-to-wire derby winner as he crossed the line. Again, floods of people swarmed the winner's circle. Tears flowed, mixed with smiles as Avery Whisman's highest earner came back for the photo. Some were visibly overwhelmed. And why not? Some things are just meant to be. Especially at 7-1.

How fitting. Poetic, perhaps. Nonetheless, how perfect?

I'd never been to a race day where a celebration of life was so apparent. All those connected to Avery were surrounded by love, not just from family, but from the patrons who surrounded them, eager to share their love too.

There are no words that can explain to what extent a person will struggle to do what they love most. For Avery, it was horses and riding. For some of us, it's teaching. For others, it's simply trying to be someone important in the eyes of another. Most of that pain is never spoken of for fear of upsetting or losing the ones we love. People find it hard to understand thus, keeping things quiet is even more necessary.

Racing can be a beautiful game. Like our own lives, as much as there is joy, there is also darkness. Avery knew the darkness. Yet, today, on a gorgeous winter afternoon, his light lit up the hearts of every race fan in attendance.

Today was an event that many will hold in their hearts forever.

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Tracks to Honor Avery Whisman

Tracks across the country will hold a moment of silence Feb. 18 in memory of the late jockey Avery Whisman. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, in coordination with racetracks across the country, is leading the initiative in an effort to shed light on mental health awareness and the challenges jockeys face. Jockeys at all participating tracks will wear black armbands in tribute to Whisman, who died suddenly Jan. 11 at the age of 23 following a prolonged struggle with the physical and mental demands placed on riders.

The 1/ST properties: Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Golden Gate, will all participate and Laurel Park, where Whisman rode primarily in 2019-2020, will have a race named in his honor on its Feb. 18 Winter Carnival program. Jockeys, family and friends will gather in the Laurel winner's circle following the race and observe the moment of silence.

Whisman's parents, Lyman and Salli, said, “We are so very proud of our son and all he accomplished in his short life. In the future, we hope to raise awareness and empower dialogue within the racing industry around gaps in needed health and mental health support for its jockey athletes.”

Mike Rogers, acting president of the Maryland Jockey Club, said, “Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, no matter your age or profession. It's important for individuals to prioritize and take care of their mental health, and it's important for us to reach out to those who may show signs of needing help.”

Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of Jockeys' Guild said, “The Jockeys' Guild sincerely appreciates 1/ST Racing bringing attention to the important issues of mental health and other health related challenges affecting jockeys. These are struggles that jockeys and the Guild have dealt with on a continual basis.”

Laurel will also distribute hats and T-shirts for a donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since its founding in 2006, the PDJF has disbursed nearly $11 million.

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Jorge Hernandez Wins First U.S. Race

Jockey Jorge F. Hernandez captured his first win in the United States when guiding Queen Cadence to victory in the first race at Laurel Park Sunday.

A multiple group-stakes winning jockey in his native Chile, the 33-year-old Hernandez's first domestic win came in his 27th mount. He also finished fourth on Shoulda Had It for owner-trainer Mario Serey, Jr. in Sunday's second race.

“I am really happy. I was waiting for it. After having five seconds in a month, I wanted to get that first win out of the way,” Hernandez said through fellow jockey Angel Cruz. “It's special.”

Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both also named Jorge, Hernandez began riding at the age of 16 prior to entering the Blanco Encalada Riders School. Standing just 4-foot-7, Hernandez quickly became one of Chile's top riders and earned the nickname, 'El Bomba.' He said he won 960 races in his home country, including Group 1, 2 and 3 stakes.

“My career was awesome over there, but I wanted to try something different in the United States,” Hernandez said.

Brought to Laurel by Claudio Gonzalez, Maryland's overall leading trainer six straight years who also hails from Chile, Hernandez had five seconds and one third from his first 26 mounts. He made his North American debut Jan. 6, finishing fifth on Gonzalez-trained God is Love. Seventeen of Hernandez's mounts have come for Gonzalez.

“Claudio brought me from Chile,” Hernandez said. “I want to thank Claudio and all the other trainers that have given me the opportunity since I've been here. I'm so happy for the opportunity Claudio gave me. He opened the door for me to come here.”

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