Pierce can drive NJ stakes

Ron Pierce’s nine-day, Sweden-imposed suspension that currently runs through June 18 is reciprocal in New Jersey, although he will be able to drive in stakes events in that state during that period. New Jersey Racing Commission executive director Frank Zanzuccki told harnessracing.com Tuesday afternoon that unlike Ontario, which is adding a day to Pierce’s suspension in that province as a condition to being able to drive in stakes finals Saturday night, no such extension will be added in New Jersey, which has Sire Stakes events scheduled during the timeframe.

“We are complying with their ruling. In their letter to us, the Swedish authorities have requested that we allow Pierce to race in certain big-event races, and we are going to reciprocate with that,” said Zanzuccki of the suspension given to Pierce for using the whip too hard and for bearing out in both the Elitlopp elim and final late last month behind Mr. Muscleman. “We have a regulation on our books that says if a driver is suspended for 10 days or less he can race in a designated race, but if he does then he has to serve another day. But this is not our ruling. This is a ruling of another entity and in that ruling they indicate that they expect him to be able to race in those types of events.

“I’m not going to add another layer of sanction on top of something they already did. I think it can go too far down that road when you are starting to make amendments to rulings that are made by other jurisdictions. We are in compliance with their order so I don’t see any reason to do that,” Zanzuccki concluded.

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