Chapa given conditional license in New Mexico

Roman Chapa, who in 2007 was suspended five years by the New Mexico Racing Commission after being found to be in possession of an electrical device, has been approved for a conditional jockey’s license, said a commission official, India Hatch.

Chapa has 14 months of unserved time left on his initial suspension, and will be licensed on probation for the remainder of that term. Commissioners also ordered him to perform a form of community service, said Hatch. Chapa will be giving presentations on his case to the riders at each of the meets in New Mexico.

Chapa, who last rode in September 2007, told commissioners at a New Mexico meeting last week that he has been galloping horses at a farm in Texas. He also presented about 15 letters in support of his reinstatement, said Hatch.

Chapa was found to be in possession of the electrical device following a February 2007 race at Sunland Park in which he finished fifth aboard the horse Right Place N Time. Chapa appealed the five-year suspension to district court, which in September 2007 issued orders that upheld the ban.

Chapa was a leading rider in the Midwest and Southwest. He won the title at the Fair Grounds meet held at Louisiana Downs in 2005-2006, and has also won titles at Retama Park near San Antonio and Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. Overall, he has won more than 1,600 races and has had $22 million in mount earnings since launching his career in the early 1990’s.