Guerrero reinstated at Parx

Juan Carlos Guerrero has been reinstated as a trainer at Parx Racing and last Tuesday won his first race at the track since Dec. 26, 2011.

Guerrero, the leading trainer by wins at Parx in 2011, was banned from the track for 10 years after he allegedly inappropriately touched a female employee of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association at Parx on Nov. 16, 2011.

Guerrero raced his horses in New York in 2012 before his wife, Lisa, became the trainer of record in early 2013 and they resumed racing at Parx. Guerrero assisted his wife at the barn each day.

Sam Elliott, in his first year as the director of racing at Parx, played a major role in having Guerrero reinstated.

“I didn’t know him when I got here but got to know him a little bit,” Elliott said. “The horses were running under his wife’s name. I went to people here and said he wants to be the trainer, and in the interests of transparency, I think we should consider giving him stalls.”

Elliott said he spoke with Joe Wilson, the chief executive at Parx; the stewards; and Mike Ballezzi, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, none of whom objected to Guerrero’s reinstatement.

In 2011, Guerrero said he had a 44-horse stable at Parx and seven horses in New York. He now has 10 horses.

“This has been a very difficult situation, and I am glad it is behind me,” an emotional Guerrero said Monday. “Now I can do what I do best, train horses. I have a wife and two daughters to provide for. I have a lot of work to do and hope I can build the stable back up.”