Ruiz under investigation for controversial ride
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Jockey Eliseo Ruiz is under investigation for his ride in Tuesday’s ninth race at Parx Racing, in which he ceded a considerable lead after failing to use his crop in the stretch.
Ruiz was riding Bailout Billy in a first-level allowance and carried a commanding early lead into the stretch when the 4-year-old filly suddenly began fading back toward the field. The jockey looked back several times as challengers drew near, but he did not appear to urge his filly. She was eventually passed by 9-5 favorite Cocktail Humor, who won by a half-length.
According to the Paulick Report, Thomas Chuckas, director of the Bureau of Thoroughbred Horse Racing for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, said stewards were investigating Ruiz. Jason Klouser, director of enforcement, said in an email Wednesday morning that the PHRC was investigating the ninth race. The jockey also has received criticism on social media, with many arguing that he did not make his best effort to win the race.
Ruiz’s agent, Troy Matty, took to Facebook to offer a defense for the jockey, claiming that he was following instructions from trainer J. Guadalupe Guerrero.
“Eliseo is a hardworking, respectful young rider who takes pride in doing things the right way,” Matty wrote. “He is well-regarded by trainers and horsemen for his professionalism, honesty, and integrity. It’s important to understand that Bailout Billy is not a horse that can be whipped or aggressively handled. Eliseo was under specific instructions, as usual, from the trainer. He followed those instructions and rode the horse responsibly, giving him the best chance possible within those limits.”
In 14 career starts, including eight with Ruiz in the saddle, Bailout Billy has developed a reputation as a speed-and-fade front-runner, often taking large early leads and ceding late ground, regardless of the result. Ruiz has been aboard for three of her four career victories, all of which were earned with hand rides.
In a starter allowance on Nov. 25 at Parx, Bailout Billy took a 2 1/2-length lead into the stretch before tiring. Ruiz never used the crop despite late pressure, holding that day to win by a length.
In another hand ride at the same level the month before, Ruiz and his filly took a six-length advantage at the top of the stretch and only held on by 1 1/4 lengths at the end.
Ruiz notably used the crop earlier in Bailout Billy’s career, including in a maiden special weight in June 2025. In that race, the filly was in front by five lengths before shortening strides in the final furlong. Ruiz attempted to urge her while she still had a considerable advantage, but those efforts proved futile, as she ducked in toward the rail while clearly spent in a 2 3/4-length defeat.
Title 7 of the Pennsylvania Code, Section 305.290, states, “All horses shall be ridden out in every race. A jockey shall not ease up or coast to the finish, without reasonable cause.”
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