Los Alamitos jockeys fined, suspended for whip violations

The Quarter Horse jockeys Eduardo Nicasio and Juan Pablo Leon and Thoroughbred jockey Armando Aguilar have been suspended and fined for recent whip violations at Los Alamitos.

Nicasio and Leon were fined $5,000 each and suspended 10 racing days for striking their horses more than twice in succession without giving them a chance to respond and for using the whip more than six times in the $1.85 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 11.

They were cited for using their whip at least 12 times, according to an official.

Nicasio won the race on Cyber Attack, while Leon finished last of 10 on Mahomes Magic.

Quarter Horse racing is not under the jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Had that been the case, Cyber Attack would have been disqualified from the win, with the winner’s share of $780,035 forfeited.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

The winner’s share of a $60,000 maiden race at Del Mar in September was ordered forfeited in October after jockey Drayden Van Dyke was ruled to have used his whip 11 times in a one-mile race.

Leon and Nicasio’s suspensions begin on Dec. 31 and cover racing days through Jan. 29. The night mixed meeting of Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds at Los Alamitos is conducted on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Aguilar, 22, was fined $250 and suspended for one racing day – opening day at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Aguilar was cited for using his whip eight times aboard Big Frank Da Tank in the fourth race on Friday. Big Frank Da Tank finished second by a half-length in a $20,000 claimer for maidens.

Cameraman retires

Hal Ward, the main cameraman at Los Alamitos since the late 1990s, retired after Sunday evening’s program.

Ward, 65, worked in racing for more than 40 years in a variety of capacities. He was an intern at Del Mar and later worked as a steward’s aide at Del Mar and as a press box employee at Hollywood Park. For more than 25 years, Ward has worked as a camera operator for all races at Los Alamitos.

Ward manned the pan camera for daytime Thoroughbred and nighttime meetings at the Orange County track.

Ward, who graduated from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program in 1979, is known outside of racing as a highly respected judge of international craft beer competitions, and is a home brewer.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.