Los Alamitos Ban of Two Drivers Upheld by Judge
An administrative law judge has upheld the ban against harness drivers Gene Vallandingham and Rick Plano at Los Alamitos Race Course.
The California Horse Racing Board heard the decision Friday by M. Amanda Behe, the judge who recently presided at a two-day hearing regarding the case, and voted to accept the ruling.
Lawyers for Vallandingham and Plano are expected to appeal the decision in Superior Court.
When the harness season began Dec. 31, Hollywood Park, which owns Los Alamitos, announced that Vallandingham and Plano had been banned. Marje Everett, Hollywood Park’s chief executive officer, said that the exclusions were made “to protect the integrity of the industry.â€
Vallandingham and Plano are being denied driving privileges and stall space, which also prevents them from training horses. They will, however, be allowed to enter horses that they own.
“In the last four years, Rick hasn’t had any important rulings against him without an argument,†Conrad Klein, Plano’s attorney, said earlier this week. “Hollywood Park doesn’t have a good case against him.â€
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