Court gives Ferrer stay of suspension

Jockey Jose Ferrer has been granted a temporary restraining order by a circuit court judge in Cook County, Ill., that will allow him to resume riding on Thursday at Hawthorne. Ferrer has been out of action since last Friday, when a 30-day suspension handed down by the Hawthorne stewards went into effect. Ferrer was suspended for failing to do his best to win the fifth race on Saturday, Oct. 21, while riding a tepid favorite in a low-level claimer and finishing third.

Ferrer initially was denied a stay of the suspension when he went to court the day after the penalty was announced. A hearing on the matter was conducted Monday by the Illinois Racing Board, after which Ferrer's attorney argued to the circuit court that it would be unfair for Ferrer to be forced to sit out while awaiting a result of the hearing at the next racing board meeting, on Nov. 12. This time, his request was granted.