LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The jockey who rode Sovereignty to the finish line at the 151st Kentucky Derby has been suspended and fined.
Junior Alvarado was ordered a two-day suspension and must pay $62,000 for striking Sovereignty too many times with a riding crop during their winning run at Churchill Downs May 3, Byron King, with horse racing publication BloodHorse, reported Friday.
The outlet reported Alvarado hit Sovereignty eight times, which is a violation of the six-strike limit allowed under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules. Had he struck the Derby winner 10 times, he could have been disqualified from the race.
Jockeys are typically fined 10% of their purse for this type of infraction. According to the BloodHorse report, Alvarado’s fine was doubled because it was his second violation in three months.
The jockey won $310,000 for the Kentucky Derby. He acknowledged going over the limit on strikes after the race.
According to a copy of the ruling issued Friday, Alvarado has 30 days upon receiving the ruling to pay the fine. The two-day suspension runs May 29 and May 30.
Should Alvarado want to appeal the ruling, he has 10 days to file a written request for an appeal with the HISA Board.
HISA provided a statement Saturday:
“Yesterday, the Kentucky Board of Stewards issued an Order imposing a penalty against Jockey, Junior Alvarado for violating HISA’s riding crop rule in the Kentucky Derby. The Stewards concluded that Mr. Alvarado violated HISA Rule 2280(b)(2) by using the riding crop more than the permitted amount during the Kentucky Derby. The penalty for such violations depends on the class of the violation (i.e., the number of uses of the riding crop above the permitted amount) and the amount of the purse. In this case, Mr. Alvarado was found to have committed a Class 3 Violation in the Kentucky Derby, for which the applicable fine is 10% of the Jockey’s portion of the purse or $1,000, whichever is greater. Mr. Alvarado’s winning mount fee was $310,000, which equates to a $31,000 fine.
However, Mr. Alvarado’s fine was doubled pursuant to an escalating penalty structure for repeat riding crop violations within the previous 180 days. The escalating penalty structure was implemented to deter repeated riding crop violations and in furtherance of the safety and welfare of Covered Horses.
Riding crop penalties may be appealed for a hearing before the Internal Adjudication Panel which will consist of three active stewards from other jurisdictions.”
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