Jockey Ramon Vazquez has already completed a 30-day suspension following his role in a spill at Lone Star Park, but an administrative law judge suggests the punishment should have been only seven days. On October 2, Judge Michelle Kallas determined that the Texas Racing Commission did not provide enough evidence to justify increasing Vazquez’s initial seven-day suspension to 30 days.
The ruling is not yet final, as the Texas Racing Commission must decide whether to accept the judge’s recommendation, which could alter Vazquez’s disciplinary record to reflect the reduced suspension.
This incident dates back to May 24 during the fourth race at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. Vazquez was riding Bint Al Dandy when the horse drifted outward in the stretch, making contact with another runner, Perdido Star, which triggered a spill that unseated three jockeys. Two riders, Isaiah Wiseman and Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez, suffered serious injuries, although both have since returned to racing.
Initially, Lone Star Park stewards suspended Vazquez for seven days for careless riding and interference, a penalty he accepted without contesting. However, David Holmes, executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, later extended the suspension to 30 days, citing the significant risk and harm caused by the spill. Holmes criticized Vazquez for moving his horse to the right without ensuring it was safe for others.
Vazquez appealed the extended suspension, arguing that because he accepted the original penalty, Holmes had no authority to lengthen it.
At the July hearing, jockey Erik Asmussen, who was nearby during the incident, testified that he did not witness any reckless behavior by Vazquez. Asmussen explained that Bint Al Dandy made a slight rightward step, which Vazquez quickly tried to correct. Both jockeys also noted how horses sometimes react to the temporary rail extension near where the spill occurred.
The commission’s chief steward, Darlene Knight, supported a harsher penalty due to the injuries, but she was not present at the track during the race and could not clarify what information Holmes used to increase the suspension. Holmes himself did not testify.
After reviewing video footage and testimonies, Judge Kallas concluded that there was no proof of Vazquez making an aggressive move into other horses. She described the spill as an unfortunate accident and found no justification for increasing the penalty beyond the original careless riding suspension.
The judge maintained the careless riding finding but ruled that the commission had not demonstrated why Vazquez deserved an additional 23 days of suspension.
Commission officials challenged the judge’s recommendation, arguing that the severity of the spill and injuries warranted the longer suspension. Nevertheless, on October 27, Judge Kallas reaffirmed her decision to reduce the suspension to seven days, with only minor clarifications.
Since Vazquez has already served the full 30-day suspension, the commission’s final decision will not affect the time lost, but it could influence his official disciplinary record. The case is now awaiting a final ruling from the Texas Racing Commission.
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on November 5, 2026.
Fan Take: This ruling highlights the ongoing challenge in balancing rider safety with fair disciplinary actions in horse racing. How the Texas Racing Commission handles this case could set important precedent for how future racing incidents—and their consequences—are evaluated, impacting the sport’s integrity and the livelihood of jockeys.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
