Attorney for Ousted Parx Jockey: Buzzer Accusation an ‘Ourtright Lie’

The attorney representing jockey Angel Castillo, who was abruptly removed from his mounts Tuesday at Parx racetrack, filed a request with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission Wednesday for a hearing and a stay of his ouster from the premises, even though the lawyer said he is unsure exactly what, if any, offenses Castillo is facing. 

Several racing industry news outlets have quoted Walter Remmert, the acting executive secretary of the PHRC, as saying that Castillo was found to be in possession of an illegal electrical stimulating device, a statement that attorney Alan Pincus said was untrue and “irresponsible.” 

“This is quite bizarre, and I will tell you that they have gotten the wrong guy. We categorically deny having anything to do with [an electrical device],” Pincus said. “It was not found on his person, it was not found in his locker, it was not found on any of his property, okay? So when you say that it was ‘found in his possession,’ that is an outright lie.” 

Calls on Tuesday and Wednesday to Remmert, the general PHRC offices, and the Parx stewards went unanswered. 

Pincus said he too cannot break through to reach anyone at the PHRC to see if his request was received. 

“I have not heard anything back from them yet and I have not been able to reach them,” he said. 

“As for the details, all I know from my investigation is that they shook the jockeys’s room down [Tuesday],” Pincus said. “I don’t know what their motives were, but there was a general search. I believe they used some kind of electric [metal detecting] wand.” 

“Having searched Mr. Castillo and having then searched his locker, [Castillo] then went down to ride the next race,” Pincus continued. “While he’s in the paddock, they come down, take him off his mounts and escort him from the premises. First they detained him for awhile. They detained him with a bunch of people that don’t speak Spanish, and he doesn’t speak English. And that is all I know.” 

“There was no paperwork given to him. What they did to him was certainly a constructive ejection,” Pincus explained. “They didn’t issue any ruling suspending him in any way, but obviously, he is not permitted to ride at this moment.” 

Jim Marini is the jockey’s agent who has represented Castillo since 2012. When asked if the accusation of using an illegal stimulating device was something that struck him as being out of character for Castillo, Marini replied, “I don’t really want to comment on that. I don’t want to get involved. Let it play out the way it is, and then we’ll go from there. There are stories flying around all over the place. Ninety percent of what you’re reading is not true, but what can you do about it?” 

Castillo is currently second in the Parx jockey standings with 38 wins and just over $1 million in earnings for 2015.