Bolt's Broad loses maiden win, purse earnings after Van Dyke cited for excessive whipping

Bolt’s Broad has been disqualified from his victory in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds at Del Mar on Sept. 9 after jockey Drayden Van Dyke was cited for excessive use of the whip in the race.

In a ruling issued on Monday by Santa Anita stewards Luis Jauregui, Kim Sawyer and Richard Williams, owner Ruis Racing was ordered to forfeit the $60,000 first-place purse, while Van Dyke must forfeit his share of $4,800.

The $60,000 comprises $48,000 for first and a $12,000 bonus paid by the track for winning a maiden special weight race on dirt.

The stewards ruled that Bolt’s Broad be officially listed as unplaced. The revised order of finish for first through sixth in the field of seven is Classymademoiselle, La Peer, Anacaro, Balenciaga Betty, Free and Humble and Shirley’s Bane.

In the decision, the stewards stated that Van Dyke was in violation of whip rules enacted in July by the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority. Under HISA rules, riders can use their whips six times in a race.

Van Dyke was cited for using his whip 11 times on Bolt’s Broad. Van Dyke was fined $960 and suspended for three days in September for the infraction.

This is the first instance in Southern California racing of a purse redistribution because of excessive use of the whip.

Bolt’s Broad has started once since the Sept. 9 maiden race, finishing third in the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.

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