Jockey Gerardo Corrales receives US$500 fine
Following regulatory action in California and other jurisdictions, Kentucky stewards have begun fining and suspending jockeys for riding-crop violations in the state. Two jockeys riding last week at Turfway Park were sanctioned in rulings dated February 12 and posted Feb. 16 on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website.
Leading jockey Gerardo Corrales received a US$500 fine for exceeding the allowable use of the riding crop in an overhand manner aboard Samurai Prince in the ninth race Feb. 11. Gabriel Lagunes was issued a three-day suspension for his ride on Hot Heels in the eighth race that evening, with stewards citing the same infraction. The rulings did not differentiate why Corrales was fined while Lagunes was suspended.
Lagunes' suspension dates run from Wednesday through Feb. 18.
Samurai Prince won an allowance optional claiming race by a half-length under Corrales, with the horse earning US$38,400. Hot Heels ran fourth under Lagunes in a US$15,000 claiming race, making US$1,080.
After consulting with the Jockeys' Guild this year, the KHRC approved an amendment in June to the state's riding crop rule, limiting its use but still allowing overhand strikes.
Amended Kentucky rules call for no more than six strikes in an overhand fashion and no more than two times in succession. Backhanded use of the crop is permitted over the final three-eighths of a race. Tapping the horse in the down position with both hands holding the reins and touching the horse's neck and waving it at a horse without making contact is also permitted.
