Mejia will appear before stewards to address buzzer allegations
Jockey Tomas Mejia, who returned to riding in early September after being out for one month with an injury, has been ordered to appear before the stewards at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Wednesday morning under suspicion of using an electrical device in a race on Sept. 3, according to New Jersey racing officials.
Mejia was ordered off all his mounts at Monmouth by the stewards last Friday morning after photographs surfaced of the rider holding what appears to be an electrical device in his hand following the Sept. 3 win at the track, Mejia’s first mount since returning to the saddle. The New Jersey officials who confirmed the hearing spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The hearing was first reported by The Paulick Report.
Mejia, who has 42 wins this year from 350 mounts, has won three races since returning to riding on Sept. 3. He was injured in a spill during a race at Monmouth on July 25. Mejia, 25, began riding professionally late in 2018.
Electrical devices are typically handheld objects that can deliver a mild electric shock to a horse to get the horse to run faster. This year, Monmouth is operating under rules that prohibit a rider from using the whip in any fashion to encourage a horse.
A New Jersey racing official said on Tuesday that stewards are in possession of several photographs that clearly show the device in Mejia’s hand.
Robert Tuccille, Mejia’s agent, declined to comment on the specific allegations, but said that he had seen several photographs on social media.
“It doesn’t look good,” Tuccille said. “This is a pretty serious matter, a pretty sensitive matter.”