Should Denny Get "Banned for Life"

 Denny Velazquez is/was a jockey at Canterbury Park in Minnesota.

StartsFirstsSecondsThirdsEarnings
265474035$624,813

Yesterday, his career went "south". 

"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 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.”

Last night I played the races at Canterbury Park and while scouting for the results of a race this morning the news of the suspension came up.

Working as a jockey, trainer, groom, owner or almost any job at Hialeah Park required being licensed by the State of Florida.  I went through the process of being licensed so I could visit horses I had partnerships in for three years.  I was fingerprinted, passed a background check, got my picture taken and I became a "horseman".

Horse racing has its own issues.  It's roots are rural where breeding horses provides jobs and entertainment at county fairs, regional race tracks and urban race tracks that reach worldwide through simulcasting of races.  It can be a fun afternoon, entertaining, and a challenge to maybe cash a ticket or two. 

And yet because gambling is involved there are issues related performance enhancing drugs, animal cruelty and other sorts of chicanery limited only by human imagination.

Folks with a lot more invested in the "sport" than I have are worried about its long term prospects.  Many seem to be rushing to the exits.  The pandemic may accelerate the problems.   Tracks have closed and both on track and off track restaurants and hotels that depended tourists and fans are suffering from a lack of on track spectators.  Owners that pay the bills may even find it impossible to their picture taken in the winner's circle.  Horse breeders will face issues regarding buyers and the timing of sales that are related to long established schedules for races and seasonality in general.  Meanwhile, casino revenue which has helped with purses will also take a hit until they are able to reopen and people feel safe enough job wise and health wise to go shoulder to shoulder at the slots.

My own experience is that losing you license, being ruled off the track, not being allowed to work, race, ride, or train horses is enough of an incentive to comply with rules.  It works for most.  Unfortunately there are many jurisdictions with different standards, abilities to investigate, and different penalties for infractions.  In addition it is too easy for owners and trainers paper over infractions to circumvent many penalties.

Uniform rules and consistent enforcement would benefit all but there is also cronyism run rampant.

Is it going to be the "Sport of Kings", a "carnival".  

The Kentucky Derby 2020 will be run for the first time on the "First Saturday In September".  


 



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