Espinoza suspended seven days for crop violation

Jockey Assael Espinoza, who led the standings at Golden Gate Fields earlier this year, has been suspended seven racing days for multiple violations of rules pertaining to excessive use of the whip, according to a ruling published on June 25 by stewards at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton.

Espinoza, who relocated to Southern California in late June in advance of the upcoming Del Mar summer meeting, was cited for incidents at Los Alamitos on June 23 and Pleasanton on June 24. He has four violations since late February at Golden Gate Fields, resulting in the seven-day suspension.

The suspension begins Sunday and covers racing days through July 15. The Del Mar summer meeting begins on July 21.

Services scheduled for Meyers

A funeral service will be held for on July 11 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lodi, Calif., for state steward Will Meyers, who died from health complications on June 10.

The service will be begin at 11 a.m. The church is located at 1055 South Lower Sacramento Road. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Racetrack Chaplaincy is requested.

Meyers was 69. He was a racing official in California for more than 40 years and worked as recently as earlier this year at Golden Gate Fields.

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