Luzzi charged in domestic altercation
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Mike Luzzi was arrested Thursday by Saratoga Springs police and faces two felony and two misdemeanor charges as the result of an altercation he had with his wife, Tania.
Luzzi, 45, was arrested at 12:33 a.m. Thursday and charged with criminal mischief in the third degree (felony), strangulation (felony), assault in the third degree/intent physical injury (misdemeanor), and endangering the welfare of a child (misdemeanor).
According to Robert Jillson, a lieutenant with the Saratoga Springs Police investigative division, officers were called to a domestic dispute at a residence on Glenwood Drive where the Luzzis live. Jillson said it started out as a verbal altercation “that went physical.” Jillson said that Tania Luzzi had “minor injuries.”
Jillson also said that Mike Luzzi caused damage to the property, leading to the criminal mischief charge. The Luzzis’ children were home at the time, which led to the endangerment charge, Jillson said.
The incident came just eight hours after Luzzi returned to riding following a 10-month absence due to serious injuries suffered in a paddock accident at Aqueduct last November.
Luzzi was released and, after meeting with the Saratoga stewards, was permitted to ride his one mount Thursday afternoon and will be permitted to ride his one mount, Love You Babe, on Monday’s closing-day card. The stewards said Luzzi gave them a statement about what happened, and they were satisfied enough to permit him to ride.
Both Mike and Tania Luzzi told Daily Racing Form on Friday that there was no physical altercation between them, but they did have an argument.
“It was an absolute unfortunate event that got blown out of proportion,” Tania Luzzi said. “I would never press charges against my husband.”
Mike Luzzi, the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey of 1989, said he is getting “100 percent support” from his wife.
Luzzi is due in court in October, but he and his wife said they hope to have the matter settled before then.