It is time to ban Norberto Arroyo Jr. from racing in this state forever

I am assuming most of you have heard about thoroughbred jockey Norberto Arroyo's Sunday morning arrest for cocaine possession with intent to sell in Saratoga Springs Sunday morning.  Here are two points I wish to make about this situation:

1. The Saratoga Springs police officers should be commended for what appears to be excellent public service.  They were out there working hard trying to keep our streets and neighborhoods safe.  Thank you Saratoga Springs Police.

2. I certainly support Mr. Arroyo's right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and he should be treated fairly by the justice system.  With that being said, I have had some what I will call incidental contact (which I won't go into because I will be discussing it with the District Attorney's office) with Mr. Arroyo and based on that experience and his troubled past, I believe these charges will stick and he will be ultimately convicted. 
   

I want to expand on the second point I made above.  According to the articles I read, here is what I know about Norberto Arroyo Jr.:

1. The T-U article that I linked above, in reporting on Mr. Arroyo's second chance, said this about his past: 

   "....This time was his latest absence from racing, a six-month penalty levied in 2008 by the New Jersey Racing Commission. It has been three-and-a-half weeks since the 32-year-old Puerto Rican's return from that suspension, the reason for which has not been disclosed by either party. He also had to reapply for his license with the New York State Racing and Wagering Board after failing a drug test at Aqueduct on Dec. 4 of last year; it was conditionally granted to him on May 27.

   In addition to on-track problems, he's had his share of run-ins with the law (in 2002 he spent 39 days in Nassau County Jail for second-degree assault)."

2. Here is what the Daily Racing Form said about him:  "Arroyo's career has been full of pitfalls, including a 39-day stint in jail after being convicted on assault charges in 2002. Arroyo also had a run-in with a livery cab driver in the Bronx in 2001."

The T-U article talked about a second chance, but by my count Norberto Arroyo Jr. was on his third, fourth, or even fifth chance - and it appears to me that he blew all of them.  Based on the charges,as well as the "incidental contact" I mentioned before, I believe Mr. Arroyo made the choice to bring drugs to Saratoga Springs, New York and sell them to people living or visiting here.  He's a bad guy that should not be allowed to race in Saratoga Springs, New York State, or anywhere for that matter.  I hate to take away a guy's livelihood, but like I said it appears that he got multiple second chances.  He made choices that hurt other people and he should be barred from thoroughbred racing.

I assume by now Mr. Arroyo has hired a team of high profile and well connected attorneys.  These hot shots will fire up their PR machine and tell us he had a difficult upbringing, that he's trying to get his life in order, he is a family man, blah, blah, blah.  That may all be true, but it doesn't negate the fact that Norberto Arroyo Jr. makes choices that hurt other people and he doesn't have the integrity to be in thoroughbred racing.  There will be a hearing at the New York State Racing and Wagering board offices in Schenectady on Friday, and I have faith the board officials will take proper actions.  I also have faith that the Saratoga County District Attorney's office will likewise handle this case judiciously and will approach these charges with the appropriate level of seriousness.  Mr. Arroyo, Saratoga County residents, and those who are involved in the thoroughbred horse racing industry deserve nothing less.

Comments

[G.D.]

Dan, Can you get me Mr. Arroya's number?