Court gives Charles Town riders track access

A West Virginia circuit court judge issued an order Thursday afternoon requiring Charles Town Races and Slots to give seven suspended jockeys access to the racetrack grounds.

Judge L. D. Egnor of Kanawha County Circuit Court issued the order after track management had indicated it did not intend to allow the jockeys to ride or work horses at the track, according to Terry Meyocks, the president of the Jockeys' Guild. Egnor had earlier on Thursday issued an order that stayed the 30-day suspensions issued last week by Charles Town to the seven jockeys for allegedly misreporting their weights.

Meyocks said that Charles Town allowed the jockeys on to the grounds on Friday to work horses, although none of the suspended jockeys rode on the card Thursday night.

Officials of Charles Town did not return phone calls on Friday.

Charles Town has alleged that the seven jockeys misreported their weights to the clerk of scales, who has been suspended indefinitely.

The seven jockeys are Alexis Rios-Conde, Tony Maragh, Anthony Mawing, Luis Perez, Larry Reynolds, Jesus Sanchez, and Dale Whittaker. All have appealed their suspensions.