Three Quarter Horse riders penalized for whip violations in rich futurity
CYPRESS, Calif. - The riders of the second- through fourth-place finishers in the $2,009,825 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 12 have been fined or suspended for whip violations in the 400-yard Quarter Horse race.
Erasmo Gasca, who rode fourth-place finisher Dasha Good Reason, was hit with a $2,000 fine and a 10-day suspension for what was described in a ruling as a “blatant violation” of strict California Horse Racing Board rules governing whip use. Gasca was cited for using his whip more than six times in a race, more than twice in succession without giving his mount a chance to respond, and in an overhanded motion.
Since October 2020, jockeys in California have only been able to use their whips in an under-handed motion and have been limited in the number of strikes allowed in a race.
Gasca’s suspension will result in a month-long absence since the Los Alamitos evening meeting of Quarter Horse and lower-level Thoroughbred races is conducted only on Saturdays and Sundays. The suspension begins Sunday, the first day of the track’s 2021-2022 meeting, and runs through Jan. 29.
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Rodrigo Aceves, who finished second on Jess Being a Friend, was fined $2,000 for using his whip more than twice in succession and more than six times in the race. He did not receive a suspension.
Jesus Ayala, who rode third-place finisher Whizkey Glasses, was suspended three days for using his whip in an overhanded motion. The suspension covers races on Sunday and Jan. 1-2.
The sanctions were published by the Los Alamitos stewards on Saturday.
In December 2020, jockey Eduardo Nicasio was fined $1,000 and given a 10-day suspension for excessive use of the whip and using the whip in an overhanded position when he finished third on Powerful Favorite in the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.
Last month, Thoroughbred jockeys E.T. Baird and Florent Geroux were each fined $5,000 for using their whips more than six times in Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Both riders indicated at the time they would appeal the penalties.
The fines were the heaviest financial penalties for single violations since the whip rules were enacted.