CHRB to uphold jockey Smith’s suspension from Saudi Cup

With a formal ruling forthcoming, California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten confirmed that jockey Mike Smith’s suspension stemming from his ride in last Saturday’s Saudi Cup will be upheld at Santa Anita Park.

Marten said the Hall of Famer Smith, who rode Midnight Bisou to a runner-up finish in the $20 million event, will see his term “reciprocated” in California — meaning the CHRB plans to honor the exact days listed by the Jockey Club of Saudia Arabia.

"We are seeking clarification on the precise dates of their suspension(s)," Marten said in an email Tuesday. "The first date of their suspension, March 6, is clear, so Smith was not named as a rider on the Friday program at Santa Anita."

Europe's Racing Post was first to report Smith was handed an eight-day suspension for going to the whip 14 times, above the allowed limit of 10; he was given an additional day for using the whip with no regard to his horse’s stride; and the Daily Racing Form indicates Smith received two more days for failing to weigh in after a Saudi Cup undercard race.

With the suspension appearing to measure 11 days, Smith additionally lost 60% of his winnings aboard Midnight Bisou amounting to $210,000.

Smith told Bill Finley of The Thoroughbred Daily News he will appeal.

Attempts to reach Brad Pegram, Smith’s agent, were unsuccessful. But Midnight Bisou’s co-owner Jeff Bloom said Smith “rode the filly perfectly” in her first race against males. The 5-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute rallied up the rail to wind up less than a length away from upsetting winner Maximum Security.

“In no way, shape or form did it look like there was any excessive use,” said Bloom, himself a former jockey. “The rules were probably unclear to many of the riders there.

“There’s this whole thing about number of successive whip actions. You can reach back and get into a horse pretty hard twice or lightly reach back and flag the horse five times — but that looks like you’re using excessive use of the whip when in reality you’re barely touching the horse.

“Mike’s not a rider who’s going to go out there and abuse a horse or take advantage. I was more than surprised that he was called in for it, but also the weight of the suspension was just so out of proportion on so many levels.”

Typically, suspensions levied in the U.S. are differentiated by calendar days or racing days. With Santa Anita running just Friday-Sunday at this point in its season, an 11-race-day term would have seen him sidelined nearly a month.

It’s also unclear at this juncture whether Smith will be allowed to ride in “designated races,” usually major stakes such as the San Felipe (G2), Saturday’s local Kentucky Derby prep. Smith holds the mount on promising 3-year-old maiden winner Honor A. P.

“Remember,” the CHRB’s Marten said, “we are not generating our own suspension (or) determining days.”

Smith, a 54-year-old Triple Crown winner aboard Justify in 2018, has won on nine of his 45 mounts since the current Santa Anita season started Dec. 28.