Jockey loses Delaware license after questioning about 3 rides

Marvin Fernández lost his Delaware jockey’s license after stewards decided he performed unsatisfactorily in three races last week at Delaware Park.

“Stewards determined that Mr. Fernández’s performance was not satisfactory to the standards required to hold the license,” according to a Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission ruling signed Friday by stewards Jocelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo. “Therefore, Mr. Fernandez's apprentice jockey’s license will be rescinded.”

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Fernández still will be allowed to work as an exercise rider, according to the commission ruling.

The ruling came the day after Fernández rode 228-1 long shot Midnight Getaway to a third-place finish in a Thursday claiming race at Delaware Park. The result paid $36.20 to show.

According to Thoroughbred Daily News, Fernández was ordered to appear in front of stewards for a video discussion of his crop use Wednesday and Thursday. That was where the races in question were discussed.

Equibase charts cited in the TDN report said Fernández did not advance a 19-1 mount in one race, allowed his 6-1 ride to be overtaken by an odds-on favorite in another and went wide with Midnight Getaway in the last of the three cases earmarked for extra attention.

Delaware Park’s closing day was Saturday.

TDN said it could not reach Fernández and racetrack officials for comment.

Fernández, 35, rode once last October and four times this month, all at Delaware Park. His record is 5: 0-1-2 with earnings of $8,143, according to Equibase.