By T. D. Thornton
After re-sparking his career last season by climbing to third in wins in the Oaklawn Park riding standings, jockey David Cohen is understandably keen for Friday's meet to start. He is named to ride 20 horses in Hot Springs over the three-day opening weekend.
But because of two carried-over three-day stewards' suspensions for interference that Cohen had incurred at Oaklawn last season, those riding opportunities were initially threatened.
Last year, Cohen had appealed both his early-March penalties to the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC). But the ARC didn't get around to hearing his appeals until April 14, the closing date of the 2018 season. Thus, when the ARC upheld the stewards' suspensions, they were ordered to be served at Oaklawn starting on opening day of the 2019 meet.
Cohen subsequently appealed the ARC's decision to Garland County Circuit Court in Arkansas. But before the case could be adjudicated, the ARC agreed to renegotiate when and where the six days of suspensions would be served, according to ARC ruling 2019-OP-2 dated Jan. 24.
“To resolve the issue before it was heard in court, the ARC and Mr. Cohen agree that Mr. Cohen would take a three-racing day suspension at Belmont Park and the remaining three days would be served at Aqueduct,” the ruling stated. “Both suspensions were satisfied.”
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