Junior Alvarado, the jockey who guided Sovereignty to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1), was fined $62,000 and suspended two racing days for violating riding crop rules by striking his horse above the permitted limit.
Sovereignty and Junior Alvarado. Coady Photo.
The Kentucky stewards announced the penalties on Friday (May 9), stating that Alvarado struck Sovereignty eight times during the Derby, two above the limit allowed under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules.
The fine is a hefty one since the Derby carries a purse of $5 million, with $3.1 million as the winner’s share. Alvarado’s share of the winnings was $310,000. HISA rules state that going 1-3 strikes over the six-strike limit results in a $250 fine or 10% of the jockey’s earnings from the purse (whichever is greater) and a one-day suspension.
However, a second offense within a 180-day period results in double the sanctions. Alvarado had an earlier violation on Dec. 1 at Churchill Downs. The suspension is set to run May 29-30.
Mike Silletto, Alvarado’s agent, said the ruling is under appeal.
After the 151st Derby on May 3, Alvarado told BloodHorse that he knew he went over the limit after watching replays of the race.
“I couldn't keep track of that,” Alvarado said. “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 (Journalism), and I needed to do what I needed to do at the time. After (watching a replay), I saw I went over, but I had no time to think about that. I just wanted to win the biggest race in America.”
If Alvarado had used the crop 10 times, HISA rules would have called for Sovereignty to be disqualified.
Imagine: Sovereignty could have been the third Derby first-place finisher to be disqualified for one reason or another in the past seven Derbys (Maximum Security in 2019 and Medina Spirit in 2021 were the others). The only other Derby disqualification before 2019 came in 1968 when Dancer’s Image was DQ’d after a post-race test found traces of phenylbutazone (an anti-inflammatory drug).
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