California stewards suspend Tyler Baze for 90 days

Jockey Tyler Baze has been suspended 90 days, retroactive to Sept. 1, for failing to take a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar. He can resume riding as early as the first weekend of December at Hollywood Park.

Baze’s suspension was issued on Friday by Los Alamitos stewards Albert Christiansen, James Dreyer, and George Slender, following a hearing with the jockey on Oct. 22. In the decision, the stewards cited Baze for failing to abide by a testing agreement, conduct detrimental to racing, and for lying to Del Mar’s stewards about the circumstances of missing a Breathalyzer test on Sept. 1.

The suspension runs through Nov. 29. Baze can begin working horses the following day, and could ride later that week at Hollywood Park.

The ruling also dictates that Baze complete a rehabilitation program of at least 30 days and follow the terms of a testing agreement that he agreed to with the racing board on Aug. 24. The agreement allowed racing board officials to conduct Breathalyzer tests on Baze at its discretion.

Baze failed a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar in August, which led to the Aug. 24 testing agreement. On Sept. 1, he was told to take a Breathalyzer test at Del Mar, but left the racetrack without doing so.