Trainer Vazquez denied suspension stay, must vacate Parx stalls

Trainer Juan Vazquez was denied a stay of a 2 1/2-year suspension issued him by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission and will have to vacate his stalls at Parx Racing and distribute his horses to other trainers, his attorney Alan Pincus confirmed on Sunday.

Vazquez was suspended for actions the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission deemed “grossly negligent, cruel and abusive” regarding the horse Shining Colors, who was euthanized in January due to a severe case of laminitis. On Jan. 6, Vazquez shipped the 5-year-old mare from Belmont Park to Parx. Three days later she had to be euthanized.

The Commission, in its investigation, determined Shining Colors was suffering from the severe chronic condition and should never have been shipped to Parx Racing.

The suspension, issued on July 7, is due to start on Monday and last through the term of Vazquez’s current Pennsylvania license, which doesn’t expire until Jan. 26, 2025. Vazquez also holds an owner’s license, which has also been suspended.

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Vazquez sought an appeal of his suspension and a hearing. While the commission granted him a hearing - the date for which has not yet been set - it denied his request for a stay.

“Fundamental jurisprudence in America states that you should have your hearing before your life is destroyed,” Pincus said. “Not getting a stay puts him in all kinds of trouble. He has to vacate his stalls, put his horses on the farm while tries to seek a stay in the appeals court.”

Pincus said such a hearing “could take a couple of weeks, unfortunately. This will ruin him if they don’t issue a stay or give him a quick hearing.”

Pincus said that both the New York State Gaming Commission and the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission looked into the circumstances surrounding the shipping of Shining Colors. Pincus said the New York commission did not take any action against Vazquez. He also said that the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission never talked to the New York-based veterinarian who issued the health certificate that would allow the horse to be shipped from New York to Parx.

“Six months go by and Pennsylvania sets a hearing for him; in the interim, they never talked to his New York vet,” Pincus said. “How can you do an investigation without talking to the vet who treated the horse and issued the health certificate?”

The New York Gaming Commission is still actively investigating the matter, a spokesman said Sunday. Additionally, New York will honor Pennsylvania's suspension of Vazquez, the spokesman said.

Pincus said Vazquez did not have legal representation at his June hearing before the Pennsylvania commission.

In February, the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission granted Vazquez a stay of two 15-day suspensions handed him for two medication positives incurred at Parx last year.

In April, the New York Racing Association denied Vazquez stalls for the Aqueduct and Belmont spring meets and then later denied his request to stable at Saratoga. However, Vazquez, up until Monday, has been permitted to race at its three tracks. He has raced six horses at Saratoga, including three on Sunday.