Bejarano ruled off Kentucky tracks pending resolution of sexual harassment allegations

Jockey Rafael Bejarano has been denied access to all Kentucky tracks pending resolution to a July 11 incident that led to his ejection from Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

The Ellis stewards issued a ruling Sunday that bars Bejarano from all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Bejarano has not ridden since July 11.

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Julio Espinoza, agent for Bejarano, said Friday that the incident involved an underaged female worker at Ellis who is alleging sexual harassment and that he strongly believes the jockey will eventually be vindicated. Espinoza said a stewards’ hearing in which Bejarano will be represented by counsel is in the process of being scheduled.

Bejarano, a 39-year-old Peru native, has won 4,180 races in a career dating to 2002. He began riding on the Ohio-Kentucky circuit when he first came to the U.S. and earned multiple riding titles at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. He eventually moved to Southern California, where he became an even bigger star, winning nearly 40 riding titles, including a sweep of all five major meets in 2008. As his business waned in California, Bejarano returned in the spring of 2020 to the Kentucky circuit.