SHAKOPEE, MN – Jockey Denny Velazquez, summarily suspended on July 20 after a search of his vehicle turned up a loaded weapon and an electronic device that could be used on horses, was suspended for one year and fined $10,000 according to a ruling handed down by the state stewards at Canterbury Park.

While the punishment is the maximum allowed under statute for the stewards, they can and did recommend harsher disciplinary action to be taken up by the Minnesota Racing Commission. Their recommendation is five years and $50,000.

Because this level of discipline can only be handed down by the Commission, a hearing will need to be held but only after an expected appeal by Velazquez. The jockey has five business days (August 12 being the first) to appeal the ruling. An appeal hearing will be scheduled and heard by the full commission. Should the initial stewards ruling be upheld, a second hearing will be scheduled to discuss the five year ban recommendation.

Should criminal charges be proffered on the two potential felonies and Velazquez is convicted, he would be prohibited from applying for a racing license for 10-years in Minnesota. Other state regulations vary.