Manny Franco will not fight 3-day N.Y. suspension to start 2024

Jockey Manny Franco, the leading rider this winter at Aqueduct, waived his option to appeal a suspension, so he will miss the first three days of the 2024 New York racing season. There are no stakes races on those cards.

“For having waived his right to an appeal, jockey Mr. Manuel Franco is hereby suspended for three New York Racing Association racing days Jan. 1, Jan. 4 (and) Jan. 5, inclusive,” the New York State Gaming Commission said in a post Thursday to its rulings database. “This is for careless riding during the running of the sixth race at Aqueduct on Dec. 9.”

Franco’s winning ride on 3-year-old gelding Rollin in Dough in the six-furlong maiden race led to a stewards inquiry and, later, a ruling that he was careless. But there was no disqualification that day.

“At the three-sixteenths pole, Rollin in Dough (ridden by) Manuel Franco came down and crossed heels with The Mighty Don (ridden by) Romero Maragh,” the stewards wrote in their report after the race. “Concurrently, The Mighty Don was retreating. After reviewing the race and speaking with the riders, the stewards had no cause for disqualification.”

Before Saturday’s races, Franco had 30 wins and $1,962,291 in earnings during the current Aqueduct meet that will end with the calendar year. Kendrick Carmouche was second with 18 victories and $1,405,295, according to Equibase.