Vazquez ban reversed, another pending

The Pennsylvania Racing Commission has reversed an order by Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa., banning the trainer Juan Vazquez from its premises, according to a copy of the commission’s decision, though a second ban issued by the same track against Vazquez remains pending.

The decision, dated May 26, did not provide a reason for the reversal. Commission officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Citing “conduct detrimental to racing,” Penn National issued the order to ban Vazquez in March, shortly after he returned to training following a 90-day ban imposed by the Delaware Racing Commission for fighting with a jockey at Delaware Park. At the time, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland and Charles Town had each issued bans of the trainer, citing numerous violations of racing rules over the past decade.

In most racing states, tracks can unilaterally enforce bans on licensees, under case law supporting a track’s right to exclude characters who may have a detrimental impact on the perception of the integrity of the sport. In Pennsylvania, however, tracks cannot enforce the ban without the licensee being afforded a hearing in front of the racing commission.

Vazquez’s hearing took place March 31, and he has continued to enter horses under his name at Penn National since the ban was issued.

Alan Pincus, the attorney for Vazquez, said commission officials explained to him when they issued the order to reverse the ban Penn National had not provided enough evidence to justify its decision.

A second ban against Vazquez, issued by Penn National in mid-April, remains pending. In issuing the order, Penn National alleged Vazquez had bribed a racing official at the track. Vazquez’s hearing into that order took place in mid-May, and an order by the commission has not yet been released.

While Vazquez was serving his 90-day suspension this winter, his assistant trainer, Hector Garcia, was banned for 13 months by the Maryland Racing Commission after three of the stable’s horses tested positive for four drugs, including three anabolic steroids. Vazquez’s wife, Kaelynn Moury, was the veterinarian for the horses.