The clerk of scales at Charles Town Races as well as seven jockeys were fined and suspended last week after an investigation by track management revealed overweight riders were not being reported.Clerk of scales Michael Garrison was fined $1,000 by the stewards and suspended indefinitely. Horse identifier Mark Munden has replaced him, according to chief steward Danny Wright. The seven jockeys — Alexis Rios-Conde, Tony Maragh, Anthony Mawing, Luis Perez, Larry Reynolds, Jesus Sanchez, and Dale Whittaker — also were fined $1,000 each and suspended for 30 days beginning Thursday.
A tipster contacted Charles Town management and reported jockeys were weighing above the two-pound-over limit without Garrison reporting the violations, and the track set up two cameras the evening of March 25, one trained on the scale’s digital readout and the other watching the riders get on the scale, Wright said.
After watching the tapes from before March 26 races, management representatives went to the jockeys’ room the following day and escorted Garrison from the grounds and turned over the tapes to the stewards.
The stewards held a hearing Wednesday and fined and suspended Garrison and the riders. Wright said he had no knowledge of criminal charges being filed. He said the judges did not believe conspiracy was involved.
2 comments:
Let justice be served. Let them RIDE!!!
1)Article III, Section 10 of the West Virginia Constitution provide, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.” Danny Wright do you really think you are above the law? Where’s the due process?
2) The Notice stated that each Plaintiff “may be represented by Legal Counsel and/or other persons, including any Racing Organization. As we all know even cold blood murders have a right to have an attorney present.
3. The Stewards told Mr. Howard that any continuance would result in the immediate suspension of Plaintiffs” racing permit. The Stewards told Mr. Howard he was prohibited from appearing on behalf of the Plaintiffs because he was not licensed to practice law in West Virginia. Have I been away to long, I don’t remember hearing that the stewards are required to be educated in law as well as having the power to over ride the law. Maybe I need to get myself a job as a steward somewhere, it’s almost as good as being the president of United State.
4. If the Plaintiffs’ did indeed violated certain “West Virginia Rules of Racing” where’s the proof (innocent until proven guilty) ? And why wasn’t an investigation conducted? Why wasn’t the Plaintiffs’ given a chance to defend all allegations.
5. The Defendant deprived the Plaintiffs’ violated the Plaintiffs’ right under the West Virginia Constitution and violated the established practices and procedures of the Racing Commission. Again breaking all laws. The racing commission should be more concern about the people they have representing them and should fire all parties involved.
6. Bribing the Clerk of Scales - think about, wouldn’t it be cheaper just to pay the $50.00 fine if that was the case.
Conclusion - I don’t buy this for a minute. It appears to me that Mr. Wright might have something to gain by keeping these riders from riding on April 18th. Maybe a bribe??? Who knows but one thing is for sure, MR DANNY WRIGHT WALKS AROUND AS IF HE IS GOD, MAKING HIS OWN RULES. HE WASN’T MUCH OF A RIDER AND HE SURE AS HELL ISN’T MUCH AS A CHIEF STEWARD. HE NEEDS TO GO BYE-BYE!!!!!!!!!
We're big believers of the 1st amendment around here, so we will publish this comment. Having said that though, if one is going to present oneself as an expert on these matters and be so very critical of the chief steward, it would seem that hiding behind anonymous is hardly fair...just a thought.
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