Rider charged in sex crime

Jockey Rui Pimentel, who has been based in Ontario since the beginning of his career in 1995, has been charged following an online investigation of sexual predators.

Pimentel, 33, has been charged with two counts of luring a child under the age of 14, invitation to sexual touching, and exposure to a person under the age of 14, according to a Toronto Police Services news release.

Born in Portugal, Pimentel started riding at Woodbine and won the Sovereign Award as Canada's leading apprentice in 1997.

Dividing his time between Woodbine and Fort Erie last year, Pimentel won 18 races and approximately $300,000 in purse money.

From 3,459 career mounts, Pimentel has 431 wins and his mounts have earned more than $9 million.