Del Mar: Headley fined for harassment

DEL MAR. Calif. – Trainer Gus Headley was fined $400 by Del Mar’s stewards Sunday for harassing a groom, specifically, according to the statement of decision, “throwing straw which contained dog feces” into the tack room of the groom, Alejandro Alvarez, while Alvarez was in the room.

There were several incidents alleged by Alvarez in February and March at Santa Anita that resulted in a hearing May 28.

“Mainly this case is based upon testimony by Alvarez and Headley, most of which didn’t strike this Board as credible,” said the statement of decision issued by stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward, who are employed by the California Horse Racing Board. “Both parties presented some witnesses who, frankly, were not able to add much to the proceeding. We do, however, find that the CHRB did prove by a preponderance of evidence one allegation – that Mr. Headley threw straw and dog feces into Alvarez’s tack room.”

According to the statement, Headley “has a series of disorderly conduct rulings on his licensed history.”

Bejarano suspended three days

Rafael Bejarano, the meet’s leading rider, was suspended by the stewards for the final three days of the meeting for careless riding aboard Miss Boom Boom in the ninth race Saturday.

Miss Boom Boom finished second and remained in that spot following a stewards’ inquiry, the stewards ruling that a bumping incident in upper stretch did not alter the original order of finish.

The suspension does not prohibit Bejarano from riding in designated stakes races Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.