Stronach removes ban on Navarro after N.J. settlement

The Stronach Group has lifted a temporary ban on horses trained by Jorge Navarro at its racetracks, citing the resolution of a case in New Jersey in which Navarro and an owner were fined for “conduct detrimental to racing,” according to the company’s top racing official.

Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer for The Stronach Group, confirmed Friday that the ban had been lifted after the New Jersey Racing Commission settled on a $10,000 fine for Navarro at a commission meeting last week. Randall Gindi, an owner who has horses with Navarro, was fined $20,000. Both fines were based on crude language the two used while they were rooting on a horse trained by Navarro’s brother. The incident was recorded on video and posted on a social media site.

“That behavior is obviously not condoned,” Ritvo said. “But the case has been settled and we are moving on.”

Navarro, who has apologized for his behavior seen in the video, is a controversial figure in racing due to his high winning percentage and a string of positives for medications over the years.

The Stronach Group refused to take entries from Navarro beginning in mid-September, after stewards at Monmouth Park in New Jersey had issued fines to Navarro and Gindi but recommended additional fines to the New Jersey Racing Commission. Indiana Grand had also barred Navarro from entering horses.

The New Jersey commission ruled on the additional fines Sept. 20.

The Stronach Group owns Gulfstream Park in Florida, Santa Anita Park, and Golden Gate Fields in California, and Laurel Park and Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland. Navarro is based in the mid-Atlantic for most of the year and ships his horses throughout the region.

Meanwhile, Navarro remains banned at Delaware Park, as a result of an order issued by the Delaware State Racing Commission based on the video, John Wayne, the commission’s administrator of racing, said on Friday. However, Navarro is scheduled to sit down for an interview with Wayne on Oct. 4 to discuss the ban, Wayne said.

“I have to sit down and talk to him, see his body language,” said Wayne, a former racing investigator. “I’m not happy with what I saw on that video. It kind of gave a black eye to all of racing, and I take that kind of thing very seriously.”