Jockey Antioco Murgia re-licensed in Kentucky after being cleared of rape charge

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Antioco Murgia, a jockey who rode with some success in Kentucky last year before being banned while he fought a criminal rape charge, was licensed on Friday after being found not guilty earlier this week, according to Barbara Borden, the state steward.

Murgia was arrested and charged with a count of rape and a count of sodomy last November. He was found not guilty in a jury trial on Monday, according to documents he presented to the stewards. Following his arrest, which stemmed from an incident at a downtown Lexington bar in the summer last year, Murgia had told acquaintances that he was innocent.

Stewards in Kentucky barred Murgia from riding after the arrest. His license expired this year, but was renewed on Friday, Borden said.

At the time of his arrest, Murgia had won 72 races from 563 rides, with purse earnings of $753,766. A native of Italy, Murgia began riding in the U.S. in 2013.