Jockey Houghton gets 30-day suspension for ride at Mahoning Valley

Jockey T.D. Houghton, who has been riding since 1987, has been suspended 30 days by the stewards at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio for failing “to use his utmost exertion” when riding a horse who was nipped at the wire in a race at the track on Jan. 6.

Houghton, who has a career record of 6,269 wins from 39,533 starts, was issued the suspension on Wednesday, two days after riding Grace in Excess to a second-place finish in the second race on Monday at Mahoning. The chart says that “the rider appeared to miss judge [sic] the wire by a few strides” before getting passed by winner Elko and beaten by a head.

Elko was the 2.10-1 favorite in the race, and Grace in Excess was the 2.60-1 third choice. The second choice, Garden Secrets, finished fourth in the six-horse race.

The wagering pools for the race were within the averages for a Mahoning Valley race. According to the chart, it was snowing at the time of the race.

Houghton is the second jockey in the past two weeks to be suspended by Mahoning stewards for failing to persevere in a race. Luis Antonio Gonzalez was suspended 15 days for a similar infraction during a ride on the Dec. 26 card. Gonzalez has ridden for 26 years.

The suspension given to Houghton will be reduced by 15 days if the rider does not appeal, according to the ruling.

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