Perez pursues charges after jockeys' room fight

Jockey Eddie Perez went to the Arlington Heights police department to press charges against fellow Arlington rider Chris Emigh following an altercation in the jockeys' room after Sunday's first race.

Perez and his mount, Bellerive, were disqualified from first to fifth in the race for bumping Emigh's mount, Friendly Face, at the top of the stretch. What happened immediately after the race is unclear, but a fight broke out in the jockeys' room, and Perez took the worst of it. Perez's agent, Tom Morgan, said Wednesday that Perez had contusions on his head, ears, and ear drums, and that stitches were required to close a cut in his mouth. Morgan was unsure if Perez would ride when racing was to resume Thursday.

After receiving medical treatment, Perez visited the Arlington Heights police department. Doug Hajek, a department spokesman, confirmed Wednesday that Perez "came in looking to have charges filed." Hajek did not know if a formal investigation into the matter had begun, and the department's supervisory sergeant for criminal investigations had the day off Wednesday.

Emigh said Wednesday that no one from the police department had spoken to him.

"It was a locker room thing, a few-second ordeal," Emigh said. "I think it's getting blown out of proportion."