Alvarado is fined $62,000 for overuse of crop in Ky. Derby win

Júnior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended two days for using his riding crop two times too many on Sovereignty to win Kentucky Derby 2025 last Saturday at Churchill Downs. The penalties did not alter the result of the race.

Agent Mike Sellitto told BloodHorse that Alvarado would appeal to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation stewards Barbara Borden, Butch Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer ruled Friday that Alvarado hit Sovereignty eight times in the Derby. The limit is six.

“After a (Thursday) hearing before the board of stewards, Júnior Alvarado, who finished first aboard Sovereignty in the 12th race at Churchill Downs on May 3 was found to have violated HISA rule 2280 by striking his mount eight times with the riding crop, second offense in 180 days,” Kentucky stewards wrote.

The big fine was largely because of the big purse. Under HISA rules, Alvarado was penalized 20% of his $310,000 winning jockey’s share of the $5 million race. The percentage was doubled, because Alvarado had a prior violation at Churchill Downs on Dec. 1. He was fined $250 after hitting Scotland seven times to win the black-type, $250,000 Cherokee Mile Stakes.

“Júnior Alvarado is hereby fined $62,000 and suspended two Kentucky racing days, May 29 and May 30,” the KHRGC ruling said. The two dates are the last Thursday and Friday this month with races scheduled at Churchill Downs. The suspension also covers races in other states on those dates. The only graded stakes on either day is the Penn Mile (G3) on May 30 at Penn National.

HISA rule 2280 limits a jockey’s use of the crop to six strikes in any race.

“A jockey who uses a riding crop on a (HISA) covered horse during a covered horse race shall do so only in a professional manner consistent with maintaining focus and concentration of the covered horse for safety of covered horses and riders or for encouragement to achieve optimal performance,” the rule says. “A jockey may use the crop only on the hind quarters or the shoulders to activate and focus the covered horse (and) use the crop a maximum of six times during a race. Use of the crop shall be considered any contact of the crop with the covered horse except for a tap to the shoulder of the covered horse.”

Alvarado acknowledged the extra use of the crop when he spoke to BloodHorse after the post-Derby news conference.

“When the extra whip happened, I was right next to the favorite (eventual runner-up Sovereignty), and I needed to do what I needed to do at the time,” Alvarado said. “After (looking at a video replay), I saw I went over, but I had no time to think about that. I just wanted to win the biggest race in America.”

The HISA appeal process allows Alvarado to make his case to three arbitrators in hopes of reducing or erasing the fine and suspension.