Report: Jockey Houghton is latest rider suspended for easing

Jockey T.D. Houghton was suspended after appearing to ease before the wire at Mahoning Valley.

Thoroughbred Daily News reported that Houghton was suspended for 30 days by Mahoning Valley stewards for his ride in the second race Monday. The stewards ruled that he failed “to use his utmost exertion to obtain a winning performance by standing up and appear(ing) to have stopped riding before the wire,” according to the report.

Houghton was riding Grace in Excess, a 4-year-old filly, in the claiming race going 1 mile 70 yards. According to the Equibase chart, he took the lead in the stretch but appeared to misjudge the wire and was caught at the finish to lose by a head.

TDN noted that Mahoning Valley stewards suspended jockey Luis Antonio Gonzalez for 15 days for a similar infraction last month.

Houghton's suspension will be reduced by half if he does not appeal, according to the report, and would run from Thursday to Jan. 30.