Gaffalione to serve three-day suspension after Churchill meet concludes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tyler Gaffalione, well on his way to another riding title at Churchill, will serve a three-day suspension after the spring meet ends Saturday, although it’s something that will scarcely impact his intended schedule.

Gaffalione is suspended for the first three days of the Ellis Park meet (June 27, July 1, July 2), with the penalty effectively preventing him from riding those same dates at Belmont Park. When Churchill ends, Gaffalione moves to New York, primarily for the Saratoga meet that starts July 15, and until Kentucky Downs starts Sept. 5.

The suspension stems from Gaffalione’s ride on Runpat in the second race on June 13, when Corey Lanerie was dislodged from his mount when Runpat swerved out into his path. Lanerie was not injured. Coincidentally, in the last race that same day, Gaffalione suffered severe bruising to his lower left leg when he was stepped on by a trailing horse when his mount stumbled leaving the mile chute, throwing Gaffalione. The injury was sufficiently painful to keep Gaffalione from riding here Thursday and Friday.

Gaffalione, 26, was the leading jockey at all six major meets in Kentucky in 2020 – three at Churchill, two at Keeneland, and one at Kentucky Downs. Into the final three-day stretch of the current meet, he is comfortably ahead with 43 wins.

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Meanwhile, the meet trainer standings are much tighter. There’s a three-way tie at the top among Brad Cox, Mike Maker, and Brendan Walsh, all with 17 winners. They’re followed by Steve Asmussen (15), Tom Amoss (14), and Chris Hartman (13).