New York Racing Association | Horse Racing Free Tips

Racing Investigators Conference Scheduled for March at Aqueduct

Edited Press Release

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will welcome members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) to Aqueduct Racetrack for its annual conference, which begins on Mar. 27 and continues through Mar. 30. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this will mark the first ORI conference since 2020.

U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, a co-sponsor of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, will be the keynote speaker of this year's event. Congressman Tonko will be joined by a number of experts and racing executives, who will address ORI membership on a variety of issues.

Registration for ORI members is available here.

NYRA is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 ORI conference, with additional sponsorship from the Breeders' Cup, 1/ST Racing, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF), Penn National Gaming, The Jockey Club and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment.

“The work of the members of the Organization of Racing Investigators is critical to ensuring safety and integrity in the sport of horse racing, and we thank NYRA for hosting us,” said ORI Chairman Jean Claude Jaramillo, an Equine Investigator Specialist at NYRA. “This is an important opportunity to share best practices and hear directly from nationally recognized experts.”

In addition to Rep. Tonko's address, presentations are expected to include:Tonko

NYRA Security Operations – John Clyne, Senior Director, Security, NYRA
Stewarding in New York State – Braulio Baeza, Jr., State Steward, New York State Gaming Commission
Jockey Club Industry Initiatives – Kristin Werner, Senior Counsel, The Jockey Club
Joint Treatments in the Competition Horse – Dr. Scott Palmer, DVM, Equine Medical Director, New York State Gaming Commission
From the Finish Line to FedEx: Testing Sample Integrity – Leasa Johnson, Chief Investigator, New Mexico Racing Commission
Examples of Pool Manipulation and Grey/Illegal Market Betting – Patrick Cummings, Executive Director – Thoroughbred Idea Foundation
Corporate Protocols – Dr. Dionne Benson, DVM, JD, Chief Veterinary Officer, 1/ST Racing
Media Training* – Patrick McKenna, Vice President, Communications, NYRA
Understanding Microchips and Digital Certificates* – Teena Appleby, Technician Operations & Investigations, Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau
Racehorse Aftercare Awareness* – Richard E. Schosberg, Trainer & President of the Take2/Take The Lead Thoroughbred Retirement Program
Interference Rules and Protocols: Consistency in Decisions* – Braulio Baeza, Jr., State Steward (NYSGC), Brook Hawkins (NYRA Steward), Dr. Jennifer Durenberger (Jockey Club Steward)
Concussion Protocols and Return to Ride* – Patricia Morrison, Premise Health
ORI Membership Business Meeting

*Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) Points of Emphasis agenda item

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Zaro Named to NYRA Board of Directors

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Jerry Zaro to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Board of Directors, the organization announced Wednesday. This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Michael J. Del Giudice and is effective immediately.

Zaro, an active breeder and Thoroughbred owner, has campaigned such horses as three-time stakes winner Blindwillie McTell (Posse) and Grade I placed Baby Yoda (Prospective), who recorded the fastest Beyer Speed Figure [114] at all NYRA tracks in 2021.

A resident of Harrison, New York, Zaro is Chair of the Banking and Real Estate Services Department at Sills Cummis & Gross, a full-service corporate law firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. He is actively involved in the real estate industry and develops, owns, operates, and manages industrial, office and residential properties in multiple states.

“Horse racing is an engine of economic opportunity for New York State, and I thank Governor Hochul for the opportunity to join the distinguished NYRA Board of Directors and contribute to the sport I love,” said Zaro. “NYRA is the premier racing circuit in the country because this board and the management team have embraced change and prioritized integrity and safety. The future of New York racing is bright.”

Also Wednesday, NYRA announced the departure of Joseph Spinelli from its Board of Directors.

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Feb. 15-21

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.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/18/2022
Licensee: Jonathan Wong, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Late declaration
Explainer: Trainer Jonathan Wong, who was scheduled to start She Said Yes in the third race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 13, 2022, is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1629 (Penalty for Late Declaration–didn't want to run).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Derek Lawson, jockey agent
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Business conduct
Explainer: Jockey Agent Derek Lawson, is fined $500.00 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1530 (Cases Not Covered by Rules and Regulations–failure to conduct business in a proper manner) on Feb. 13, 2022 at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Tim McCanna, trainer
Penalty: $400 fine
Violation: Late Lasix registration
Explainer: Trainer Tim McCanna is fined $400.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1845 (Authorized Bleeder Medication–late registration) of GEA in the first race on Feb. 18, 2022, at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the crop
Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the seventh race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 18, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo, who rode Dream Robber in the second race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 18, 2022, is suspended for three racing days (Feb. 26, 27 & Mar. 4, 2022) for altering course without sufficient clearance shortly after the start and causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/20/2022
Licensee: Jose Luis Delgadillo, jockey
Penalty: N/A
Violation: N/A
Explainer: Jockey Jose Luis Delgadillo having now complied with a testing agreement with the California Horse Racing Board (submitted negative test) is deemed eligible for licensing. Ruling #92 issued on May 15, 2021, at the Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc. is hereby set aside. Further Jose Luis Delgadillo shall remain on a testing agreement as long as he is licensed in California.

New York

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 02/19/2022
Licensee: Ralph D'Alessandro
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Poor business practice leading to scratch
Explainer: Mr. Ralph D'Alessandro has been fined the sum of $500.00 for failing to tend to business in a proper manner necessitating a scratch in the first race at Aqueduct racetrack on Feb. 19, 2022.

Kentucky

Track: Turfway Park
Date: 02/21/2022
Licensee: Bob Baffert, trainer
Penalty: $7,500 fine and 90-day suspension
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and confirmed at University of California, Davis (Laboratory No: 210525-424136), sample number E427258 taken from Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 12th race at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2021, contained betamethasone in blood (Class C drug) (fourth medication violation in 365 days in any racing jurisdiction). After a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards Robert A. Baffert is hereby suspended 90 days, Mar. 8, 2022 through June 5, 2022 (inclusive) and fined seven thousand five hundred ($7,500) dollars. Medina Spirit is disqualified and all purse money forfeited. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling. During his suspension Mr. Baffert is denied the privileges of all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Entry of all horses owned or trained by Mr. Baffert is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards. Upon receipt of this ruling, it is required within thirty (30) days to pay any and all fines imposed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Failure to do so will subject the licensee to summary suspension of license pursuant to 810 KAR 3:020 Section 15 (cc).

Track: Turfway Park
Date: 02/21/2022
Licensee: Amr Zedan, owner
Penalty: Disqualification and purse money forfeiture
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and confirmed at University of California, Davis (Laboratory No: 210525-424136), sample number E427258 taken from Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 12th race at Churchill Downs on May 19 2021, contained betamethasone in blood (Class C drug). Amr F. Zedan was present at a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards. MEDINA SPIRIT is disqualified and all purse money forfeited. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling. All purse monies must be returned to the association. The purse of this race is ordered redistributed.

This ruling is pending appeal, more about which can be read here.

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Report: Investigation Reveals Former NYRA Steward Engaged In ‘Favoritism,’ Failed To Keep Records Of His Actions

A steward for the New York Racing Association from 2014 through 2019, and employed by the New York State Gaming Commission in other roles since 1986, Stephen Lewandowski has been revealed as the subject of a state investigation that indicated he engaged in “favoritism” and “inconsistent application of policies,” reports the Albany Times-Union. The report, by a New York inspector general, was released as part of a pledge of Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration to be more transparent.

The inspector general's investigation, conducted in 2018, stemmed from a complaint filed by an unnamed owner who claimed Lewandowski had been withholding the purse money his horse had won. Then–acting Gaming Commission Inspector General Lisa Lee discovered the owner and his trainer had been in a dispute about training/veterinary fees, and that Lewandowski had withheld the purse money for more than a year without either notifying other Gaming Commission officials or filing a suspension of the owner.

Lewandowski's colleagues also told investigators that he was “arrogant, condescending, intimidating and disrespectful” and acted like “God at the track.”

The investigative report concluded: “Lewandowski's fitness to represent the commission as a steward should be reconsidered given his actions against licensees who have not been suspended or revoked, his lack of understanding as to his role vis-a-vis the Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering and the commission as a whole, as well as his lack of record-keeping related to actions taken.”

However, Lewandowski kept his job for seven months after the date of the report, at which point he retired voluntarily. Contacted by the Times-Union, Lewandowski said he was completely unaware of the inspector general's findings.

Recently, Lewandowski has been in the news for his ardent support of embattled Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert during a suspension hearing called by the New York Racing Association.

Under questioning from Baffert's attorneys, Lewandowski said he had no dealings with Baffert on any integrity or rule violation issues in his time serving as a steward in the state. Lewandowski said he called Baffert sometime after he was suspended by NYRA to offer his support.

“I feel like he's been unfairly taken advantage of,” Lewandowski said. “He's never had any problems in New York.”

On cross examination, NYRA attorney Henry Greenberg questioned that point by Lewandowski, bringing up the controversy about Baffert's non-coupled entry in the 2018 Belmont Stakes. Baffert saddled both Triple Crown winner Justify in that race as well as Restoring Hope, who was piloted by Florent Geroux. Mike Repole, co-owner of Vino Rosso and Noble Indy, would later complain to New York Post writer Tom Pedulla that Geroux put in a “reckless” ride aboard Restoring Hope, possibly in an attempt to block some of Justify's competitors.

Headlines in the Post questioned officials' decision not to launch an investigation into the race. Lewandowski said that he eventually spoke to Repole but also that he did not recall Repole's complaint. He said he did not speak to Baffert about the incident, and said he did not recall subsequent media coverage questioning the stewards' lack of investigation. He also said he did not recall eventually reversing course and speaking to Geroux, nor did he recall a meeting with the other stewards, who Greenberg suggested disagreed with each other on the best way to handle the situation.

Then, Greenberg asked Lewandowski about his support of Rick Dutrow, who was suspended 10 years and fined $50,000 after one of his horses tested positive for butorphanol and three hypodermic needles were discovered in a desk drawer in Dutrow's office. Following his retirement in 2019, Lewandowski wrote a letter to the Gaming Commission and to the Queens County District Attorney saying that Braulio Baeza Jr., then a NYRA steward, told him the syringes were planted.

Baeza later denied he told Lewandowski this. Baeza is the new state steward who holds Lewandowski's former job.

As to the dispute in stories between himself and Baeza, Lewandowski let loose.

“Braulio Baeza, one of us is lying. It's either Braulio Baeza or me. Are you accusing me of lying?” yelled Lewandowski during Baffert's hearing. “One of us is lying. Why would Braulio Baeza speak to me about Rick Dutrow, who he had nothing to do with. One of us is lying. And I'm not accusing anybody. But it's either him or me. And believe me, he said it to more than one person.

“…Are you calling me a liar, sir? Are you calling me a liar? I am not a liar … I thought Braulio Baeza was a good man. One of us had the information to help a man who was wiped out.