Del Mar bans Desormeaux from riding after altercation
Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux was removed from his mount at Del Mar on Friday by track management after an alleged altercation on track premises earlier in the week.
Track president Josh Rubinstein cited a California Horse Racing Board rule that allows a racetrack to remove or deny “access for any reason deemed appropriate by the association.”
Rubinstein did not elaborate on the alleged incident, but said Friday morning that Desormeaux would not be allowed to ride at Del Mar.
“Our action is not related to racing, but as a result of conduct that is not consistent with our standards and values,” he said in a brief interview.
J.R. Pegram, Desormeaux’s agent, declined to discuss the circumstances of Del Mar’s decision, but said Desormeaux was in discussion with a lawyer regarding potential legal action.
“We’re dealing with it currently,” Pegram said late Friday morning.
Desormeaux was originally booked on three mounts on Friday’s 11-race program, but two were scratched on Friday morning.
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Desormeaux, 50, had three wins from 14 mounts at the current meeting, which began July 10. This year, Desormeaux has won 28 races, including 24 at Golden Gate Fields where he was based in the late winter and spring. He rode earlier this at year at Fair Grounds, where he had one win.
There is a possibility the issue could lead to a hearing with track stewards, pending an investigation by the racing board. Such a hearing would not be held until mid-August following the completion of an investigation and a formal 10-day notice to Desormeaux, stewards said.
The stewards indicated that Desormeaux’s license is in good standing with the racing board, even though Del Mar officials said he cannot ride there.
– additional reporting by Jay Privman