Quote:
Originally Posted by Brisk Urging
Samantha Randazzo has been named The Jockey Club steward for the New York Racing Association. She takes the place of Dr. Jennifer Durenberger who was appointed as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Equine Safety & Welfare Director.
She was caught with needles and drugs banned from the grounds back in 2004 fined $600  |
I'm OK with those who want to hold the viewpoint "once is too much" for her to ever be a steward - even if they were legal therapeutic drugs (what kind of drugs is not clear in the ruling).
But for me, one violation, 18 years ago in 2004, (it actually occurred in 2003) with the evidence of a lot of work put into building/re-building a reputation since then - vet tech, law school, harness steward accreditation, thoroughbred steward accreditation, working her way up the racing official/steward ranks in various states - doesn't disqualify her.
As far as NYRA stewards go, my greater concern personally is the state steward, Braulio Baeza, Jr., who has singular authority (other stewards only have "input") over issuing jockey suspensions. I do not hold out much hope for the policing of dangerous race riding getting better as long as he is the NY state steward.
