Júnior Alvarado appeals fine, suspension for Derby violation
Júnior Alvarado is appealing a $62,000 fine and two-day suspension levied for a crop violation aboard Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority imposed the penalties after Kentucky stewards found that Alvarado used the crop eight times, which is twice more than permitted. HISA granted a stay of the penalties pending the appeal.
BloodHorse reported that Alvarado's penalties are expected to be reduced by half because of planned changes in HISA's repeat-violation rules.
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.
As BloodHorse noted, the current rule that doubles fines is for violations within a 180-day period. But the multiplier rule would be shortened to 90 days through an amendment by a HISA committee that is awaiting Federal Trade Commission approval. If it is approved, Alvarado's fine would be reduced by half, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus said last week on the Rail Talk podcast.
The HISA appeal process allows Alvarado to make his case to three arbitrators.