Stewards fine three jockeys for new whip rules violations

Jockeys Victor Espinoza, Heriberto Figueroa, and Juan Hernandez were fined $100 each by Santa Anita stewards over the weekend for violations of new whip regulations put in place by the California Horse Racing Board at the beginning of the month.

The new rules limit riders to six underhanded strikes in a race. Riders cannot use the whip more than twice in succession before pausing to give a horse a chance to respond to urging.

Espinoza was cited for using his whip more than six times on second-place finisher Lady Noguez in the fifth race Friday. Hernandez was fined for using the whip more than twice in succession on Big Barrel, who finished fourth in Saturday’s fifth race.

Figueroa was cited for using the whip more than six times on Bob and Jackie, who finished third in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on Saturday.