Jockey cited for methadone

Fairmount Park stewards recommended in a ruling last Saturday that leading jockey Ramsey Zimmerman have his 2005 jockey's license revoked, as a result of a positive July 16 test for methadone, a banned substance commonly used to treat heroin addiction.

This is Zimmerman's third violation of Illinois's substance abuse policy, and fourth overall. In December 2001, the Hawthorne stewards suspended Zimmerman for 15 days for a positive marijuana test, as well as admitted use of alcohol and controlled substances. After a repeat infraction at Hawthorne in March 2002, his probationary license was suspended, pending completion of substance abuse treatment, an obligation he fulfilled in order to get his license restored in May of that year. In September 2003, Zimmerman relapsed at Hoosier, where his license was suspended for 60 days after a positive marijuana test.

Zimmerman did not return several phone calls seeking comment.

Methadone infractions are extremely rare, said Kim Walters of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, whose records revealed no citations involving methadone in the past five years.