The Long Wait is Over

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You may remember that last year when Santa Anita announced it was going institute a new rule limiting the use of the whip, and my hard-hitting, in-depth probe (watching a few replays) regarding the scope of the problem (inconclusive). You may also remember that the rule was put on hold not long after the announcement for a CHRB statewide vote.

Apparently the rule passed in November but only recently went into effect on July 1. According to the aforelinked Blood-Horse article the delay in implementation was due to jockey outreach…

According to a release from the California Horse Racing Board, state racing industry organizations and The Jockeys’ Guild support the development, adding that stewards and representatives of the Guild have been working with California jockeys for nearly one year on adjusting their riding styles.

The CHRB said the effort has involved a review of racing videos and informing jockeys when their actions would have incurred a penalty under the impending rule. “Stewards report that jockeys are now in substantial compliance,” the CHRB said.

Admittedly I missed this in real time, it only came to my attention via this today…

Well how about that! But is $200 prohibitive? No doubt it will be for some but I can’t see big money riders like Bejarano, Espinoza or Smith even noticing a couple of $200 fines here or there. Perhaps the fines go up with each successive offensive? I couldn’t find anything about the fines, so I guess we’ll see how that works out once there’s a repeat offender.

How has it been going since July 1? A quick review of the CHRB stewards minutes from July 2 – 4 (pdf) yielded the following:

Jockey EDWIN MALDONADO is fined TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)* for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(6) (Use of Riding Crop – more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond – first offense), during the fifth race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 2, 2015.

The foregoing ruling was issued after Mr. Maldonado accepted responsibility for striking his mount more than three times in succession, thereby giving him the dubious honor of becoming the first jockey on the Southern California circuit to be penalized for violation of the new crop/whip rule

First!

Jockey FELIPE VALDEZ is fined TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)* for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b )(6) (Use of Riding Crop – more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond – first offense), during the eighth race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 2, 2015.

The foregoing ruling was issued as Mr. Valdez admitted striking his mount more than three times in succession. He said his mount was lugging in, but the tapes did not corroborate his statement.

Replay here, his mount is #12 Sturdy One, who finishes third. She’s wide and 3rd coming into the stretch so she’s easy to spot. Looks like she lugged earlier but not during the incident.

Jockey Christian Aragon is fined TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)* for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(6) (Use of Riding Crop – more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond – first offense), during the second race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 3, 2015.

Jockey CHRISTIAN ARAGON, who rode SHARPEST ONE in the second race at Los Alamitos Racing Association on July 3, 2015, is suspended for THREE (3) racing days (July 10, 11, and 12) for failure to mak e the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from second to third position. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rule s – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

These rulings were issued after Mr. Aragon had viewed video of the second race from July 3rd . He had no excuse for the whip violation or the drift in the stretch which resulted in disqualification.

Combo platter!

Jockey SALVADOR INIGUEZ is fined TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00)* for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688 (b)(6) (Use of Riding Crop – more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond – first offense), during the third race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 3, 2015.

The foregoing ruling was issued after Mr. Iniguez had viewed the third race from this past Friday. He was apologetic, stating that it would not happen again.

That’s a heartening response! I’ll try to remember to keep an eye on this to see if there are repeat offenders, and if so if the fees go up. Here’s hoping that Iniguez’s response is indicative of the net result of the ruling.