Zimmerman appeals for license

Ramsey Zimmerman, the leading jockey at Fairmount Park, has filed an appeal with the Illinois Racing Board to have his riding license restored after Fairmount stewards stripped him of his privileges because of a positive test for methadone on July 16.

The positive finding was the third time Zimmerman was found to have violated the state's substance abuse policy. He also had a violation at Hoosier Park in September 2003, when his Indiana license was suspended for 60 days after a positive marijuana test.

In an article that appeared Wednesday in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Zimmerman denied ever having used methadone, saying, "I don't even know how to get my hands on it."

Zimmerman was also quoted in the article as saying he "will not ride at Fairmount again," even if he is successful in regaining his Illinois license.

Zimmerman did not return phone calls seeking comment. His agent, Mark Cooper, said simply: "I'm done with him."