Jockeys Couton, Amador given 30-day bans for sharing whip during race

Jockeys Julien Couton and Silvio Amador have been suspended 30 calendar days after an incident in Thursday’s sixth race at Golden Gate Fields in which Amador aided Couton by giving away his whip in the stretch.

Couton rode Olive You More to a third-place finish, while Amador was aboard Belle Magie, who faded to finish last of nine in a maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at a mile.

Couton dropped his whip on the second turn while racing in sixth place. In early stretch, Couton and Amador could be seen talking briefly while racing side-by-side before Amador handed his whip to Couton. Belle Magie (13-1) was fading from contention at the time. Olive You More (the 7-2 favorite) closed with interest to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind race winner Mila’s Dream.

Amador, 38, was cited for “failure to give his best effort by voluntarily relinquishing his riding crop to a rival jockey in the stretch,” according to a ruling published Saturday by Golden Gate stewards John Herbuveaux, Will Meyers, and Dennis Nevin.

Couton, 38, was cited for “soliciting and gaining control of a rival jockey’s crop in the stretch,” according to a ruling.

The suspensions, which begin Monday and run through Jan. 14, are for calendar days and not racing days.

Through Friday, Amador was third in the standings at the current Golden Gate Fields meeting, with 31 wins. Couton was sixth with 22 wins.