Talamo sanctioned for whip violation

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Time for Trouble posted a $37.50 upset of the featured eighth race Thursday at Keeneland, but the victory will come at a cost for his jockey, Joe Talamo, who struck the Irish-bred with his whip eight times, two over the limit imposed by new crop rules mandated by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Talamo will forfeit 10 percent of his share of the purse, or $7,347, and will have to sit out one day of racing, which the 33-year-old rider said will be one of the last three cards of the Keeneland spring meet this coming week.

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Time for Trouble, the longest shot in a field of six, rallied up the rail to prevail in a wild finish in which the top five finishers in the 1 1/8-mile race were separated by less than a length.

Borden to be honored

Barbara Borden, the chief steward at Kentucky tracks since April 2012, has been named the 2023 recipient of the John Asher Derby Ambassador Award by the Knights of Columbus. Borden, an Ohio native, will be presented with the award May 1 at the organization’s annual Derby week dinner at the Galt House in downtown Louisville. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant career contributions to racing.

Borden, who compiled race charts for Daily Racing Form for about seven years before becoming a racing official in 1988, has presided over rulings that include the Derby disqualifications of Maximum Security (2019) and Medina Spirit (2021) during her tenure as chief steward.

◗ Rich Wilcke, the former longtime director of the Equine Industry Program at the University of Louisville, died Tuesday at age 79 in Henry County, Ky., following a lengthy illness. Prior to his time at the school, Wilcke also was an executive with the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Million, among various other undertakings in the industry.

“Rich was very beloved by his students,” said Terri Burch, coordinator of the Louisville program.

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