Assistant starter cleared in June 14 gate incident at Delaware

Delaware Park assistant starter Jesse Kisilewski has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission regarding an incident that occurred in the starting gate prior to the beginning of race 5 on June 14.

Kisilewski, who has been suspended by Delaware Park since the date of the incident, will be reinstated to his position, according to John Mooney, the executive director of racing at Delaware Park.

Kisilewski, who has worked at Delaware for approximately 20 years, was in the No. 7 starting stall with the horse Accolade and jockey Daniel Centeno for the 1 1/16-mile maiden race on turf.

Accolade became agitated and ducked his head sharply downward, pulling Kisilewski off balance. Kisilewski righted Accolade, and then, while holding the upper part of the horse's bridle with his right hand, hit Accolade four times in the face with the open heel of his left hand.

A few seconds later, Accolade ducked downward again, but Kisilewski straightened him and Accolade broke from the gate fairly well. An 8-1 shot, Accolade raced in fourth position early, made a three-wide bid to closer contention on the far turn, but then tired in the stretch to finish sixth, beaten 10 lengths.

Because the race started in the infield chute, the track television camera afforded a close-up, head-on view of the starting gate. The incident caused a stir on social media, with some posts accusing Kisilewski of using excessive force.

Delaware Park issued a same-day statement on Twitter: Delaware Park "in no way condones the mistreatment of animals & has immediately suspended the asst starter involved in an incident before the 5th race today. The incident has been referred to the DTRC, which will investigate & hold a special hearing on Saturday morning."

The Delaware Racing Commission investigation involved the state veterinarian, who inspected Accolade after the race and found the 3-year-old gelding to be uninjured. The stewards spoke to all parties involved and held a hearing on the matter. The Department of Agriculture also was involved, including its animal cruelty investigator.

On Monday, Duncan Patterson, the chairman of the Delaware Throughbred Racing Commission issued the following statement when contacted by Daily Racing Form:

"This decision was based upon a thorough investigation at both the state and track levels, which included but was not limited to review of videos, interviews with those involved in the incident and individuals who are knowledgeable regarding the standard protocols of handling a fractious horse in the starting gate when a horse becomes a danger to the jockey and/or assistant starter.

"At the state level the incident was investigated by the Stewards and the State's Animal Cruelty investigator and subsequently the assistant starter was cleared of any wrong doing. The final decision was fully supported by the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission."

Patterson, a former trainer and steeplechase rider, declined to elaborate further.

Mooney agrees with the commission decision.

"I feel strongly that if he hadn't acted in the manner he did, the incident could have resulted in catastrophic injury to the rider and horse," Mooney said. "He not only managed to control the horse, he was able to get it in a position that it broke cleanly. I feel he acted in the best way he could under the circumstances."

Mooney has known Kisilewski for many years and has a high regard for his skills as an assistant starter.

"I feel relief about the commission's decision," Mooney said. "I have a lot of confidence in this individual. He's a very experienced man, with many years of doing this. He would never abuse a horse. He has the full support of the jockey colony."

Kisilewski did not respond to a phone call or text requesting comment.

Centeno's agent, Kevin Witte, said when he asked Centeno about the horse, he said, "He was really tough in the gate. He tried to lay down."

Witte, a former trainer, added "if you've ever had to hit a horse in the face with an open hand like the assistant starter did. It's like hitting an iron pole."

Accolade is trained by Abel Castellano and owned by Glenn Fagan.

Castellano was a jockey for 16 years before he became a trainer. He rode 1,850 winners, including 459 at Delaware Park.

He said Accolade was uninjured in the incident. He added that Kisilewski had been working with the horse during training hours to improve his gate habits. Accolade is winless in nine starts. He had acted up and reared in the gate in his prior race.

"I think he might have been frustrated with the horse because he was not acting good," Castellano said. "But the assistant starter's first job is to protect the jockey. When you are in the gate with a 1,000 pound animal, you don’t know what's going to happen and things happen fast."

Castellano said when he was riding at Delaware, he was always glad when Kisilewski would handle his mounts.

"I've known him a long time," Castellano said. "He has been in racing all his life and would not do anything to hurt a horse. Guys think he punched the horse in the face, but I would call it a slap. It was very good the way the situation came out. Nobody got hurt, the horse is fine."

A day after the race, Fagan issued an angry statement to WDEL radio about how Accolade was handled in the gate. Two days later, after speaking with Castellano, he issued a second, more tempered statement to the station, which partially read:

"When I made my statement to you I was extremely upset over the incident that occurred at Delaware Park on Thursday. My trainer, Abel Castellano, had not informed me that upper management, John Mooney, had not only reached out to him, but had sent the State Veterinarian to check on the welfare of Accolade as well. Though I personally have not heard anything from Delaware Park, I'm glad to know that they were concerned for the safety of my horse.

"Abel had also informed me that the assistant starter involved in the incident, someone that he had known well and respected, had apologized to him as well."