Parx stewards say Hernandez-Ortega had buzzer

The stewards at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., have revoked the license of rider Pierre Hernandez-Ortega for possession of an illegal electrical device, an acknowledgement that personnel from the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission initially cast their suspicion on the wrong rider.

The stewards issued the order Thursday, according to a document provided by the attorney for Angel Castillo, the first rider who was accused of being in possession of the device after racing-commission personnel conducted a search of the jocks’ room at Parx on May 12. The stewards held a hearing May 22 to consider the evidence uncovered during the search, which occurred just after the fifth race.

“Based on the uncontroverted evidence presented at the stewards’ hearing, Mr. Hernandez-Ortega is found to be in violation of the commission’s regulation,” the stewards wrote in the order. “Mr. Hernandez-Ortega’s possession of the device and subsequent deceptive action to conceal the possession are equivalent of an attempt to fix the outcome of the 5th race at Parx on May 12, 2015.”

Electrical devices, which are often called buzzers or machines, can be used to deliver a mild electric current to a horse. They are typically small enough to fit inside of the hand or in the handle of a riding crop.

Just after the May 12 search, Castillo was ordered off his mounts and escorted from the track, but only after he had left the jockeys’ room and had arrived downstairs for the sixth race. His attorney, Alan Pincus, has said that Castillo and his locker were thoroughly searched, that the rider had no involvement in the incident, and that commission personnel “got the wrong guy.” Pincus has also said that the device was found on the floor of the jockeys’ room.

Castillo was granted a stay of any further action by the commission following the May 12 incident and has ridden at Parx since that time.

Through Friday, Hernandez-Ortega is the ninth-leading rider at the Parx meet, with 25 wins from 146 mounts. In total in 2015, he has 32 wins from 173 mounts.

Hernandez-Ortega is the second rider to have his license revoked this year for possession of an electrical device. In January, Roman Chapa, a Texas rider, was suspended for five years for allegedly carrying an electrical device during a race at Sam Houston Race Park. Chapa was subsequently charged with a felony.