"Enough Is Enough"!

-Jockey Christian Santiago Reyes made the news again this week.  The 2009 Eclipse Award winner for top apprentice, is once again at the center of attention.  This time, the California stewards have handed him a thirty day suspension for weighing out with a "prohibited item" prior to Hollywood Park's June 6th opening race.

Jockeys are required to "weigh out" before races to insure they will be carrying the proper weights.  On this occasion, his horse Jenny Jenny Emily was assigned to carry 118 pounds.  When Reyes first stepped on the scales, he was two pounds under the assigned weight.  In a common practice, Hollywood clerk of scales Ruben Hernandez told Reyes' valet he would need to add two more pounds to his saddle to make weight. This is usually accomplished by placing lead weights, or pads in specially designed pockets in the saddle.

When Reyes returned, Hernandez noticed a bulge in one of Reyes' pant legs.  After feeling the item through the pants, and questioning Reyes, Hernandez concluded that it was a one pound weight Reyes had stuck in to make the proper weight.

Odd, and perhaps unnecessary, Reyes' actions violated California Horse Racing Board rules regarding weighing out, and having a prohibited item in his possession when attempting to weigh out.  Even the stewards had to question the reason for the deceptive action. 

My thoughts are that Reyes felt he was gaining an advantage, as slight as it was, over his other riders by having the weight in his pants as opposed to the saddle.  It's been a proven theory because of the rhythmic movement of horse and rider, that the weight of the rider (or in this case attached to) is easier for the horse to carry than "dead" weight in a saddle.  Innocuous or not, he made a conscious effort to place it there for one reason only.  He thought it would benefit him!

Reyes' suspension is scheduled to begin October 14th, but I wouldn't count on it.  Having already amassed sixty three days of suspension (yet to be served), for six infractions since May, he and his tireless lawyer are almost certain to make these thirty days take their proper place in que.  Giving new meaning to "working the system", lawyer Bing Bush is working overtime coming up with new ways to divert his client's suspensions. 

It reminds me of Paco Lopez this summer.  With the help of fictitious legal arguments from his lawyer, he was allowed to persuade a judge to rule in his favor on grounds that his rider would be irreparably harmed by serving his suspensions during the last few weeks of the Monmouth meet.  A meeting that his client was leading rider at the time.  A suspension that actually causes detriment to the offender.  Why would anyone want that?

Very similar and self serving are the actions of the "super" trainers. Those poor, unlucky souls whose horses are found to have "magically" ingested some drug, or substance, that just happens to be a performance enhancer, or pain blocker. The same drugs that in some instances, are not even allowed on the track in the first place.  There's always a reason why they can't be held accountable for the positive tests.  Does anyone remember the "Poppy seed muffin" defense?

Am I really that old that I can remember when character mattered, and shame was a virtue?  Where does integrity and fair play fit in today's society?  Is it asking too much of people not to try and cheat their fellow competitors, and those who do "the right thing"?  When will someone step up to say enough is enough?  Unfortunately it's probably too late.  The proverbial horse is already out of the barn.  Our only hope may be to call a lawyer.  At least he can get us an injunction.