2 jockeys suspended after scary spill Sunday at Del Mar

Two jockeys involved in a spill that affected seven horses in Del Mar’s seventh race Sunday, resulting in the race to be declared a no contest, have been suspended.

In separate rulings issued on Thursday by the Del Mar board of stewards, Jose Valdivia Jr. was suspended 10 days and Diego Herrera was hit with a five-day suspension.

Valdivia, who was aboard Katie’s Paradise, was given the more severe punishment “for crossing over without sufficient clearance entering the far turn and causing interference, resulting in an accident.” Herrera, riding Sassy Chasey, was disciplined for “allowing his mount to remain in tight quarters entering the far turn and causing interference resulting in an accident.”

None of the horses involved were seriously injured.

Valdivia is slated to serve his suspension from next Thursday through Sept. 18, which would go through the remainder of the Del Mar meet and into the Los Alamitos stand that runs from Sept. 10-26. However, Valdivia’s agent, Nick Hines, told Daily Racing Form he plans to appeal.

Herrera will serve his suspension from Sept. 2-6.