Suspension, Fines Dropped for Eduardo Jones in New York

State regulators in New York have dropped a suspension order and fines imposed last year on Thoroughbred trainer Eduardo Jones following an allegation by stewards that he acted as a "front trainer" for horses in several races.

The board of the New York State Gaming Commission accepted a hearing officer's report Dec. 19 that the case against Jones be dropped and the original race placement of horses in the races be restored.

Robert Williams, executive director of the agency, told the board that Jones was suspended for 60 days and fined $5,000 in December 2018 for "acting as a front trainer" for horses in three races at Belmont Park last year and a horse scheduled to run in a race at Aqueduct Racetrack last November.

Jones was accused of violating four state racing rules.

The trainer requested a hearing into the charges. Four days of hearings were held in March and April. Last month, a hearing officer of the Gaming Commission issued a report that recommended the suspension and fines be overturned and the original placement of the horses be restored, Williams said.

The state board, by a 4-0 vote, sided with the hearing officer to reject the original fines and suspension. The board made no additional comments Thursday, and the hearing officer's report, revealing the reasoning behind the decision, was not immediately available.

In January, Daily Racing Form quoted Jones saying the racing steward, Steve Lewandowski, had been "picking on me" for more than a year. "This is racial stuff,'' the trainer was quoted as saying. The steward, the outlet said at the time, denied having a personal problem with Jones and said the trainer violated the rules