from the USTA Communications Department

Editor’s Note: In response to media reports that Brian Sears has been excluded from driving in non-stakes races at The Meadowlands, Tioga and Vernon Downs, Sears issued the following statement late Thursday afternoon.

I am deeply disappointed in Jeff Gural’s recent decision to exclude me from The Meadowlands, Tioga and Vernon.

I am a licensed driver in good standing with the New Jersey Racing Commission, the New York Gaming Commission and all other governing bodies throughout North America. I have done nothing wrong and have broken no rules. The only thing I did was say no to Jeff when he asked me to leave Yonkers and return to the Meadowlands earlier this year.

Owners in this game pay a lot of money to buy good horses and pay a lot of money to stake those good horses everywhere including the Meadowlands. Some of those owners want me to drive their horses in baby races, qualifiers, overnights and stakes.

I’ve spent my whole career working hard to get to a point where owners want to have me drive their top horses. It’s disheartening that this is an issue.