Machado again suspended for failing to urge mount to finish

For the second time this fall, jockey Luan Machado was sanctioned by Kentucky stewards for failing to urge his mount through to the finish line in a race.

Machado was riding Hold My Bourbon in an allowance race on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, and the duo held a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch. With Machado hand-riding to the wire, Lightline, under Flavien Prat, rallied down the center of the track to nail them by a neck at the wire.

Lightline, sent off as the second choice, returned $9.30 for the win. Hold My Bourbon went off at odds of 7.64-to-1.

In a stewards ruling that is dated Nov. 30 - but which was only recently posted to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website - the stewards stated that after a hearing before the board, Machado has been suspended four racing days and fined $1,000 “for easing up on his mount approaching the finish without adequate cause.”

Machado, who is currently based at Turfway Park, is expected to serve the days Dec. 7, 11, 12, and 13.

In October, Machado was suspended for three days and fined $2,500 for misjudging the finish line in a race at Keeneland – which utilizes two finish lines – and easing up at the first wire, costing his mount, Ultimate Strike, a virtually certain win.