Castellano get three days for Hidden Facts DQ

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Javier Castellano has been suspended three days by the Churchill stewards, although when that penalty will be served has yet to be determined.

Castellano was penalized after his mount, Hidden Facts, was disqualified from second to sixth for causing interference in deep stretch in the ninth race Saturday.

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With Belmont Park set to reopen Wednesday, Castellano and three other star jockeys who rode regularly at Churchill in the last three weeks – John Velazquez, Joel Rosario, and Jose Ortiz – all have returned home to New York. Castellano’s agent, John Panagot, said Monday the exact time period he will serve the Churchill suspension has not been decided.

During the first 11 Churchill cards (through Sunday), the New York foursome combined for 27 wins and nearly $1.7 million in mount earnings.

Track posts DQ rulings

Transparency of stewards’ decisions is being heightened on the Kentucky circuit, with Churchill now posting written explanations of disqualifications on its website, starting with the Hidden Facts incident.

Although Keeneland has posted stewards’ explanations in recent seasons, transparency has been mostly lacking in Kentucky, most notably with the disqualification of Maximum Security as the first-place finisher in the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Stewards’ explanations of demotions are commonplace in many foreign jurisdictions and at some U.S. tracks.

Kentucky stewards have filed written explanations with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for years, but they were not readily available to the public. Chief steward Barbara Borden said the notifications will now also be available on the commission website, along with a comprehensive daily report of claims.