Alvarado suspended 15 days for Gold Cup incident

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York stewards suspended jockey Junior Alvarado for 15 days for careless riding following the incident in last Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park that left fellow rider Rajiv Maragh with a broken arm.

Alvarado has appealed the suspension, contending that it is more severe than penalties given to other jockeys on this circuit for careless riding.

Approximately 4 1/2 furlongs from the wire in the Gold Cup, Alvarado maneuvered Moreno to the inside, causing Wicked Strong to clip heels with Moreno and unseating Maragh. Maragh fell hard to the dirt and broke his right arm. He underwent surgery Sunday and is out indefinitely.

“They said it was a careless ride, and I 100 percent agree,” Alvarado said. “I had a horse going in front of me, I had a choice to go outside or inside, and I decide to go inside without looking. I don’t blame anyone else, 100 percent my fault.

“But there have been a couple of incidents, one time three riders went down, and they give the guy only three days,” Alvarado added. “It would have been okay if they had given 15 days to that same person, I have no problem. Did they give me [this penalty] because it’s a big race? I don’t think that really matters. Anyone could get hurt in a little race or a big race.”

In 16 previous careless-riding suspensions on this circuit handed out by the stewards this year, 15 were for seven days, reduced to three if the rider did not appeal. In one instance, a rider was given five days.

Jockey Jose Ortiz received a seven-day suspension, reduced to three for his waiving his right of appeal, for an incident in a June 25 turf race at Belmont. In that race, Ortiz allowed his mount to drift, causing a horse to clip heels and fall. In turn, two other horses fell and unseated their riders. One horse, Roses for Romney, sustained fatal injuries.

The stewards denied issuing the penalty to Alvarado based on the fact that the infraction happened in a Grade 1 race that was on television.

“The severity of it,” said New York Racing Association steward Braulio Baeza Jr. “He put the guy in the hospital.”

It is unclear when Alvarado’s appeal will be heard. The appeal is heard by a gaming commission-appointed hearing officer. The officer and gaming commission have the right to reduce or increase the penalties.