Smith's suspension schedule pending; he will ride Saturday at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith faces an uncertain riding schedule in March while awaiting clarification of a riding suspension issued in Saudi Arabia last Saturday for excessive use of the whip on runner-up Midnight Bisou in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

Smith was given 11 days of suspension by Saudi racing officials – two days for failing to weigh in after the fifth race last Saturday, eight days for excessive use of the whip on Midnight Bisou and one day for “using his whip without regard to horses stride” on Midnight Bisou, according to a memo sent by Saudi Arabian racing officials to their California counterparts.

Smith is scheduled to serve the first two days on consecutive Fridays beginning this week. It was not clear on Wednesday morning when the remaining days would be served, and whether Smith would be eligible to ride designated races, often graded stakes, during the suspension.

Smith will be eligible to ride Saturday’s rich program at Santa Anita, which includes four graded stakes.

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Santa Anita stewards have exchanged messages with Saudi officials seeking a clarification on the remaining nine days of penalties. As of Wednesday morning, no resolution had been reached.

Smith was at Santa Anita on Wednesday morning and expressed surprise at the duration of the penalties and a cash fine of $210,000 for excessive use of the whip.

“I’m waiting to see if I can ride graded stakes,” he said. “I don’t really know.”

Smith was judged to have struck Midnight Bisou 14 times, over the limit of 10 allowed in Saudi Arabia.

“I didn’t think I went over it, but I did,” he said. “I understand. I thought nine days was incredible and then the $200,000. I thought, Whoa.”