Pennsylvania commission suspends Juan Vazquez in death of horse

Trainer Juan Vazquez was suspended until January 2025 and fined $5,000 by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission for actions it deemed “grossly negligent, cruel and abusive” as it relates to the horse Shining Colors, who had to be euthanized in January due to a severe case of laminitis.

According to the ruling, posted on Thursday on the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission website, the suspension begins on July 18 and extends through the term of any Pennsylvania license he currently holds, which is Jan. 26, 2025. Vazquez also holds an owner’s license.

The Paulick Report was the first to report the penalties.

Vazquez has until July 17 to appeal.

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On Jan. 6, Vazquez shipped the 5-year-old mare Shining Colors from Belmont Park to Parx. On Jan. 9, the mare was euthanized due a severe case of laminitis. The ruling states that “evidence presented by veterinarian witnesses and the necropsy report clearly revealed that the horse Shining Colors was suffering from this severe chronic condition and should never have been shipped to Parx Racing” by Vazquez.

“The Board of Stewards determine that owner/trainer Juan V. Vazquez was grossly negligent, cruel and abusive in the shipping of Shining Colors from Belmont Park to Parx Racing,” the ruling states.

Shining Colors was the second Vazquez-trained horse death in eight weeks related to shipping. On Nov. 17, Vazquez shipped the horse Ekhtibaar from Parx to Belmont and the horse was dead on arrival, according to the New York Gaming Commission website. An autopsy did not provide a definite cause of death.

Vazquez has accrued a laundry list of violations over the years, including failure to have proper papers on file for horses he is racing, issuing worthless checks, and various medication violations. In fact, he is currently appealing 30 days’ worth of suspensions handed him by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission stemming from two medication positives for the deworming medication levamisole.

One of the horses who tested positive for that medication was Hollywood Talent after he won the Grade 3 Turf Monster last Sept. 25 at Parx at odds of 108-1.

Vazquez had horses stabled at Parx and Belmont Park. But in March Vazquez was denied stalls by the New York Racing Association for the Aqueduct and Belmont spring meets. He is, however, permitted to race at NYRA tracks. Vazquez was denied stalls at Saratoga, according to NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna.

Vazquez, who won 14 races from 64 starters at Aqueduct’s winter meet, is 3 for 21 at the Belmont spring/summer meet. He remains able to run horses here at least through July 17 unless he files an appeal. Vazquez has horses nominated to both the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Thursday and the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes on July 17 at Saratoga.