Fresu to serve reduced suspension from 2023 violations
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Jockey Antonio Fresu has been suspended on Saturday and Sunday and fined $500 for riding infractions at the 2023 Del Mar summer meeting that were originally 22 days of suspension and fines of $990, but later significantly reduced by a policy change enacted by the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Unit.
Fresu was cited in late August and early September of 2023 for three incidents in which he struck his mounts seven times in a race, once over the permitted limit. He served one seven-day suspension later that month for an accumulation of such infractions, and later received a stay regarding 22 days of penalties of seven and 15 days.
The penalties increased in severity because of a HISA rule in place at the time that heavily sanctioned riders for repeat occurrences of whip violations. The rule has since been replaced with a less severe tiered penalty structure that sanctions riders for the number of times they strike a horse over the permitted level and how many violations of the rule that have occurred in the preceding 180 days.
The revamped penalties range in severity depending on the number of times a rider strikes a horse in a race over the permitted level and the value of a purse.
For example, a rider who strikes a horse one to three times over the permitted level would receive a $150 fine and a one-day suspension in races with a purse of $9,000 or less.
A rider who strikes a horse more than 16 times in a race with a purse of $9,000 or less would receive a $500 fine and a five-day suspension. The horse would be disqualified from the purse.
The penalties, through fines and suspensions, are more severe in races with higher purses.
Earlier this year, Fresu was represented by an attorney who negotiated an agreement with HISA to reduce his penalties to two one-day suspensions and two $250 fines. Fresu withdrew his appeals of the rulings issued in September 2023 by California Horse Racing Board stewards.
The amended penalties were announced in a ruling issued by racing board stewards at Santa Anita on Sept. 29.
In a separate ruling issued by the same stewards last Friday, Fresu was suspended three racing days – Friday of this week and Oct. 14 and 18 for causing interference in the second race at Santa Anita on Sept. 29.
Fresu rode Magic Account who won a $16,000 claimer at six furlongs by 4 1/2 lengths. Fresu was cited after Magic Account drifted out in early stretch before pulling clear of four rivals.
Armando Ayuso, who rode second-place finisher Chasing Rain, lodged an objection, alleging interference, but the plea was rejected by the stewards who said the incident did not affect the order of finish.
Fresu does not plan to appeal the three-day suspension, according to his agent, Tom Knust.
Fresu, 32, moved from Dubai to Southern California in the spring of 2023 and quickly became established as one of the leading riders on the circuit.
At the Del Mar summer meeting that ended on Sept. 8, Fresu finished second in the standings with 36 wins, 11 behind leader Juan Hernandez. At the current Santa Anita autumn meeting, Fresu is tied for the lead with Hernandez through Thursday. Both had eight wins.
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