Stewards Let Lewis Remain in the Saddle

Jockey Jim A. Lewis rode to a third-place finish in a major Los Alamitos stakes race last week, but he almost didn’t ride at all.

Lewis was suspended after a drug test administered by the Oregon Racing Commission at an April 13 race at Portland Meadows showed positive for cocaine and codeine.

As a matter of routine, California honors suspensions of jockeys in other states. To get the suspension lifted in California, Lewis, ranked 11th last year in national earnings, had to meet Oregon requirements for first-time offenders who test positive for drugs: See a drug counselor, supply a clean urine specimen and sign a waiver of responsibility.

But Lewis, according to an Oregon official, did not meet a May 1 deadline for compliance. Instead, he hired an attorney and sought a stay of his suspension in California until he could have a hearing before stewards in Oregon.

When the stay was denied by a Santa Ana court last week, stewards at Los Alamitos acted. Noting that Lewis was supposed to be aboard Costal Classic, one of the favorites in last Friday’s $106,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby, they summoned the jockey to a meeting late Friday afternoon and told him to comply or remain on suspension, according to steward Albert Christiansen.

Lewis agreed to meet Oregon’s terms, Christiansen said. Satisfied that Los Alamitos stewards had things under control, stewards in Oregon lifted the suspension not long before post time Friday after talking to their California counterparts on the phone.

Obtaining phone clearances is a common practice between state stewards, according to Steve Barham, executive director of the Oregon Racing Commission.

Lewis, who did not return several phone calls, brought Costal Classic in third in El Primero. But he lost an unknown amount of income during the four race days that his suspension lasted in California.

“He basically could have done all of this a week or two weeks ago and that would have been the end of it,” Barham said.

Los Alamitos General Manager Dick Feinberg said he believes stewards at his track, who are employees of the California Horse Racing Board, did a good job getting Lewis back in the saddle.

“Their decision in this matter seemed professional and appropriate considering the facts that I have seen,” he said.

Mark W. Fredrick, Lewis’ attorney, said the jockey still has a lawsuit pending against the California Horse Racing Board. The suit claims that suspending a rider for any reason without a formal hearing “violates plaintiff’s right to procedural due process and constitutes an unlawful interference with plaintiff’s right to earn a living.” The suit seeks to force California to allow jockeys to continue working until a hearing is completed.

Lewis will decide in the next few days whether to pursue the case, Fredrick said.

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Just when things were looking bright again for jockey Guillermo Gutierrez, an old injury threatens to cut his riding days short.

Gutierrez, the only jockey this season to claim victory aboard all four breeds racing at Los Alamitos, will undergo surgery for the second time on his left shoulder May 15. Gutierrez felt pain last week when he went to the whip while riding WMA Voyagerr. He originally injured the shoulder a year ago when he fell from a mount. The shoulder is held together by a pair of steel pins, placed there during surgery after that fall. Doctors are concerned that the pins came loose this time during the whipping, according to Gutierrez.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Gutierrez said. “I need to work. I’m hoping I can come back and ride again soon.”

He is expected to be sidelined about two months.

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After some early glory, it has been a tough start of the season for jockey Oscar Monroy. Monroy rode longshot Maelindas Neion Moon to victory and a $77 payoff on the second day of racing. But a week later he fell off SoCal Secret in a spectacular spill at the starting gate. Last Thursday stewards suspended him for careless riding. Monroy is expected to return Friday 0.

Racing Notes

Trainer Paul Jones, who could not win a major stakes race in 1995, already has one this year. His horse, Father Gene, won the Kaweah Bar on opening night. Jones, earned $460,000 last season in posting 96 victories in 509 starts. He ranked 12th in trainer earnings nationally. The leading money-winner among trainers was Blane Schvaneveldt, who earned more than $1.6 million and posted 149 wins in 880 starts--all but one of those at Los Alamitos.

Saturday’s $20,000 James S. Smith Memorial Handicap features two of the best long-distance quarter horses in the country. Rivals Speedy Lunch and Brotherly meet for the first time this season in the 870-yard race. Brotherly has taken both previous meetings at this distance, and they figure to go head to head several more times this season. Speedy Lunch, a 9-year-old, won five of nine stakes races last season and will be coming off several weeks of inactivity. Brotherly, under trainer Charles Treece, appears to be in top form after taking an allowance race at Los Alamitos April 27. Mr. Diddy Wa Diddy, not to be counted out, is also slated to run.