The Zia Park assistant starter who made headlines last week for commission action against his license is working at the racetrack in a different capacity, stewards confirmed Wednesday. Assistant starter Ramon Alvarez received notice of a disciplinary hearing in front of the stewards after he allegedly hit a Quarter Horse filly in the face four times with an open hand ahead of the fourth race on Oct. 20.
Previous reports, including one in this publication, indicated Alvarez had been ruled off for six months for the behavior. Steward Ron Walker clarified Wednesday that was inaccurate and Alvarez has neither been “ruled off” nor suspended. New Mexico law requires a ten-day notice to a licensee ahead of a stewards' hearing. Walker said Alvarez waived his right to notice and to a hearing on stewards' intent to revoke his assistant starter's license for six months, which enabled him to be removed from the starting gate. He did not waive his right to a hearing to determine whether he will face disciplinary measures for the incident.
A ruling issued Nov. 2 stated the stewards had rescinded Alvarez's one-year assistant starter's license for six months beginning Nov. 2 and ending May 1.
The ruling was signed by two of the three stewards. Walker said Alvarez is related to one of the other stewards, whom Walker did not identify. Walker said the steward in question recused himself from the proceedings regarding Alvarez.
As he awaits his hearing on Nov. 23, Alvarez is permitted to continue using his license as an outrider, which he had prior to the gate incident.
Walker said Alvarez had been working on the gate temporarily at the time of the Oct. 20 incident while Zia was in search of someone to fill the position of assistant starter permanently. He had been working at the gate for a couple of days prior to the incident in question.
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