Velazquez's Royal Ascot suspension 'under review' in New York

With John Velazquez assigned a nine-day suspension by British Horseracing Authority stewards stemming from a ride Wednesday at Royal Ascot, many stateside posed the question.

Will this affect Velazquez's status back home?

Brad Maione, director of communications for the New York State Gaming Commission, said Thursday that "the matter is under review by the commission."

BHA stewards dinged the Hall of Famer Velazquez for his ride aboard the Wesley Ward-trained 2-year-old Kimari, who finished a close second in the Queen Mary (G2). Velazquez was ruled to have used his whip "above the permitted level and in an incorrect place" 1 1/2 furlongs from the finish. Stewards fined Velazquez nine days and £350, or just more than $440. The Daily Racing Form's Steve Andersen reported the suspension runs from July 3-11, calling into question Velazquez's status on a major weekend of racing in New York, where the Stars & Stripes Festival includes the Belmont Derby (G1) and Belmont Oaks (G1) invitationals. Suspensions from other jurisdictions are often upheld nationally, but it appears international sanctions are more of a gray area.