The Kentucky Racing Commission has doubled a suspension levied against jockey Calvin Borel as part of an effort to stop appeals the regulatory body considers frivolous.
Following a closed, executive session Jan. 5, the KHRC voted to suspend Borel for six racing days, double the initial three-day suspension given to Borel for interference during a race at Churchill Downs in November. Borel appealed the initial suspension, but then dropped the appeal in December after the Churchill meet was over.
Lisa Underwood, KHRC executive director, said the commission doubled the suspension because they considered Borel’s appeal frivolous, and that he took the action so he could continue riding and take the suspension at his convenience.
In addition to doubling the suspension, the commission imposed the penalty on six days in which Borel would likely be riding, rather than on days that would include dark days. As a result, the dates designated for the suspension are Jan. 15-17 and Jan. 22-24, the first six days of the race meet at Oaklawn Park, where Borel is a regular rider.
In another regulatory matter, chief steward John Veitch reported that veterinarian Kenneth Reed had completed a 30-day suspension for administering an injectable to a horse at Turfway Park within 24 hours of a race.
Veitch said Reed gave the injection of Glycopyrrolate inside the injectable administration time for Deputy Darling, who ran in the fourth race at Turfway Park Oct. 3, 2009. Deputy Darling won at 2-1 but was later disqualified from purse money and placed last. Under Kentucky regulations, the only injectables allowed within 24 hours of a race are furosemide and the permitted adjunct bleeder medication.
Because Reed accepted full responsibility for the incident, which occurred without the knowledge of trainer Mike Maker, no action was taken against the trainer, according to Veitch.
Reed served the suspension from Dec. 1-30.