Fresh
following his win at the Kentucky Derby
Jockey Junior Alvarade is set to face a substantial penalty of over $30,000 for excessive use of the whip.
on his horse Sovereignty
.
The 151st Kentucky Derby was more than just a display of equine power;
It attracted a celebrity-filled audience featuring Simone Biles alongside her partner Jonathan Owens.
, rock star Machine Gun Kelly, soccer’s
Aaron Rodgers
, with even more enhancing the occasion. Additionally,
dispute regarding the national anthem performance
.
Approximately 150,000 viewers witnessed Sovereignty overtake the favorite, Journalism, earning a $3.1 million portion of the total $5 million prize money. Even though he won, Alvarado will have to deduct a substantial amount from his winnings due to violating regulations regarding the use of whips during this esteemed competition.
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Authorities found that Alvarado surpassed the allowable limit of six whips as established by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). The regulations state that no more than six whips should be used, with at least one pause required for the horse to react after every two strikes.
According to BloodHorse, after reviewing the incident, it was found that Alvarado used the whip more than seven times, which violates HISA rules.
Alvarado admitted his counting error after the race, stating
BloodHorse
Amid the excitement of the derby, he lost sight of his vote tally.
Alvarado conceded, “I found it hard to stay on top of everything.” He added, “Given how major this event is, there’s an overwhelming amount to focus on.”
He stated, “I wasn’t ahead by 10 lengths. Once the additional encouragement occurred, I was alongside the favored horse, and I had to take action as required at that moment.”
Following a review of the footage, I realized I crossed the line, but at the time, I didn’t have a chance to consider it. My sole focus was winning the most significant race in the country.”
If jockeys surpass the six-strike limit by one to three strikes, they will have to pay either a $250 fine or 10% of their purse winnings, with the higher amount being enforced. Considering Sovereignty’s $3.1 million prize, Alvarado would receive approximately $310,000 after deductions.
As a result, the jockey has been hit with a substantial $31,000 fine, a one-day ban from racing, and three penalty points added to his license.
Should a jockey surpass the allowance by four to nine extra penalties, the consequence escalates to a fine of $500 or 20% of their prize money. In Alvarado’s case, this would equate to $62,000.
Moreover, the jockey faces a three-day suspension along with five points added to their license. Alvarado accepted this outcome, saying, “I’ll just have to accept the penalty that will likely be imposed on me. There’s really nothing else I can do about it.”
However, Alvarado will be given a chance to justify his conduct, as Mandy Minger, a representative from HISA, stated: “At this point, Junior Alvarado will have the opportunity to clarify if his usage of the crop adhered to HISA’s regulations regarding riding crops.” According to
Thoroughbred Daily News
.
