Jockey Junior Alvarado, fined $62,000 and suspended two days for violating riding crop rules in guiding Sovereignty to victory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, appealed the sanctions May 19, and a stay has been granted. His suspension had been scheduled to run May 29-30.
His penalties are expected to be reduced by half due to planned changes in Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority repeat-violation rules.
Kentucky stewards determined Alvarado struck Sovereignty eight times during the Derby, above the six-strike limit to a horse's hindquarters as allowed under HISA rules. Some of the strikes appeared to result in limited contact with the colt's hind end.
The stewards' ruling did not affect betting payoffs and the official results from the Derby.
Alvarado's fine is significantly larger than most riding crop violations due to the $5 million purse in the Kentucky Derby, from which $3.1 million was awarded to the winner. According to HISA rules, going 1-3 strikes over the limit results typically in a $250 fine or 10% of the jockey's portion of the purse, whichever is greater, plus a one-day suspension. Alvarado's winning mount fee was $310,000 in the Derby.
A second riding crop offense within a 180-day period doubles the sanctions. Stewards cited Alvarado for this in issuing their ruling. Alvarado's earlier violation within the 180-day period occurred Dec. 1, also at Churchill Downs.
The multiplier rule is currently in the process of being shortened to 90 days through an amendment by HISA's Racetrack Safety Committee that is awaiting Federal Trade Commission Approval. Under the rules of that amendment, his fine and suspension would not have doubled since his Dec. 1 violation would have been outside that window. Alvarado has nine riding crop violations under HISA oversight since they took effect in July 2022.
HISA CEO Lazarus told the Rail Talk podcast last week that HISA would "give him the benefit of the new rules we've done across the board, like official suspensions with trainers, etc., while we wait for the FTC to approve it. That would cut his fine in half to $31,000. And, to be honest, if you look at the difference between first and second place and the fact that he broke a rule, I think $31,000 is a reasonable place to land."
HISA would stay the multiplying aspect of his penalties and rescind those upon the FTC approving its proposed rule changes. There is no timetable for when FTC approval will occur.
A fine relative to the purse of the race is a deterrent for violations in races of high importance and value.
Since HISA's riding crop rules were implemented in July 2022—a move made in the interests of optics and horse welfare—jockeys have become more aware of riding crop restrictions, and violations have gradually decreased. Jockeys also now use crops with cushioned foam poppers without hard edges or seams.
According to HISA rules, its Internal Adjudication Panel will appoint three members of a pool of adjudicators to hear the appeal. Those adjudicators are typically stewards from different jurisdictions, which in this case would mean outside of Kentucky.
Sovereignty, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief trained by Bill Mott for owner/breeder Godolphin, scored by 1 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Derby, defeating eventual Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Journalism.
No other Kentucky Derby-participating jockeys were cited for riding crop violations.
