15 jockeys suspended by Mountaineer stewards
Mountaineer Racetrack stewards have suspended 15 jockeys for allegedly presenting false and altered copies of physical examination documents.
The rulings were issued Monday after a telephonic hearings on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
One of the jockeys, Eddie Jurado, was suspended for 210 days and fined $2,500. In addition to the charge of presenting falsified documents, the stewards' ruling said he admitted to producing and /or delivering falsified copies of physical examinations to the other 14 jockeys.
Jurado's suspension begins Thursday and runs through April 4.
The other 14 jockeys to be suspended were: Eric Barbaran, Recardo Mejias, Luan Silva Machado, Fernando Salazar Becerra, Juan Leon Velez, Brandon Tapara, Eder Luis Martinez, Luis Hernandez, Sonny Leon, Logan Holbrook, Angel Serpa, Jose Leon, Odhair Mayta and Jose Davila. Their suspensions are effective Thursday or Friday.
As of early Thursday afternoon, none of the jockeys had appealed the rulings, said Joe Moore, executive director of the West Virginia Racing Commission.
Mountaineer cards for Sunday and Monday already have been drawn. Of the suspended jockeys, Mayta, Leon and Jurado are among the top 10 in number of starts for the current meet, which began April 25.
Moore told Horse Racing Nation in an email that "most of the riders suspended were ship-in riders. The suspensions should not affect live racing at Mountaineer Park."