Canterbury Park stewards have handed a one-year suspension to jockey Denny Velazquez after a buzzer and a loaded gun were found during a search of his vehicle on track property.
The stewards also issued Velazquez a $10,000 fine.
The ruling came after a hearing during which the stewards presented nine exhibits and heard testimony from Velazquez.
Those penalties were the maximum available to the stewards by Minnesota statute.
The stewards have referred the case on to the Minnesota Racing Commission, which has the authority to issue a longer suspension and a larger fine. The stewards recommended the commission suspend Velazquez for five years and increase the fine to $50,000.
The ruling stated the presence of the gun and the buzzer “call into question the honesty and integrity of horse racing and the safety, health and welfare of the participants and the general public at Canterbury Park.”
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