Jockey Junior Alvarado, who won the Kentucky Derby riding Sovereignty against second-place Journalism on Saturday, could face discipline from horse-racing authorities for whipping his horse too much.
In 2022, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority implemented a rule saying that a riding crop can only be used on the hindquarters six times in two-strike increments, or on the shoulder while using both hands to hold the reins and touch the horse’s neck.
On Saturday, Alvarado appeared to use the crop on Sovereignty at least seven times.
“I couldn’t keep track of that. It’s such a big race, there’s so much that you’ve got on your mind … When the extra whip happened, I was right next to the favorite and I needed to do what I needed to do at the time,” he said during a post-race press conference, according to horse-racing magazine the Blood-Horse.
Under the HISA rules, Alvarado would face a one-day suspension and forfeiture of 10% of his portion of the $3.1 million prize purse for Derby winners. Jockeys normally get around 10% of that total, which would put Alvarado’s fine at around $31,000 according to the Blood-Horse.
Alvarado is due to meet with Churchill Downs officials on Thursday.
“Alvarado will have the opportunity to explain whether his use of the crop violated HISA’s riding crop rules,” HISA spokesperson Mandy Minger told horse-racing website Thoroughbred Daily News.
Though Sovereignty will run in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, he will not be at the Preakness Stakes on May 17 and thus there will be no Triple Crown winner this year.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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