Witnesses called to testify Tuesday during the first day of a hearing
into whether Kentucky State Steward John Veitch violated multiple rules
of racing described a chaotic and sometimes conflicting series of
events leading up to the Life At Ten incident at the Breeders’ Cup last
Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
The witnesses – which included Amy Zimmerman, a television producer
working on the ESPN broadcast of the Ladies’ Classic; two of the three
stewards at Churchill; an assistant starter at Churchill; Life At Ten’s
jockey, John Velazquez; and, briefly, Veitch – gave different
interpretations to comments made by Velazquez during the broadcast about
Life At Ten’s fitness. The witnesses also differed on their
recollection of the events leading up to the race, including the exact
wording of comments made by stewards in the booth.
Most compelling, Velazquez, testifying by phone from New York, told
the hearing officer and opposing sides that he had no concerns about
Life At Ten’s soundness that day, and that if he did, he would have
immediately told veterinarians in place near the starting gate to
examine the filly.
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