At its Feb. 9 meeting, The Jockey Club’s board of stewards accepted the recommendation of The Jockey Club Registrar to deny Florida resident Lope Gonzalez all privileges of The American Stud Book on a permanent basis effective Jan. 1, 2011.
According to a release, the action was taken based upon information received by the Registrar, which included the judgment entered Oct. 14, 2009, in the circuit court of Marion County Florida concerning acts of cruelty committed to a horse.
Denial of all privileges of The American Stud Book includes the privilege to register foals or submit any documents related to foal registration. The Jan. 1, 2011, effective date allows registration of foals already conceived prior to the judgment.
Ogden Mills Phipps, the chairman of The Jockey Club, said in a statement, “The Jockey Club fully supports and assists law enforcement agencies, the courts, and racing regulatory authorities in the investigation of matters involving cruelty to Thoroughbreds.
“When there is a final determination by a court, an official tribunal, or an official racing body that a person has killed, abandoned, mistreated, neglected or abused, or otherwise committed an act of cruelty to a horse, The Jockey Club will not hesitate to take appropriate action under Rule 19.”
Principal rules and requirements of The American Stud Book are located at jockeyclub.com/registry.asp?section=3#nineteen.