Stewards halve jockey Paco Lopez's 60-day suspension
Jockey Paco Lopez, originally suspended for 60 racing days last week by Gulfstream Park stewards for his role in an April 14 ride aboard It’smyluckycharm, will see his term halved.
A Gulfstream spokesman said Thursday that the veteran jockey will be suspended 30 racing days. In accordance with the reduced sentence, Lopez has agreed to donate $10,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund as well as perform community service at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
Lopez is eligible to resume riding on June 15.
Lopez, who was moving along the rail on the No. 5 horse, drove into the path of No. 6 horse, Let’s Go Baby, bumping him multiple times on the turn and creating a near disastrous result. The action forced fellow jockey Leonel Reyes to pull back in the starter optional claiming event.
Lopez lost the mount aboard Dallas Stewart’s Out For a Spin in the Kentucky Oaks due to the incident.
Lopez was also suspended for 30 days in February by Gulfstream Park for his role in a two-horse spill during a race on Jan. 31 at the Florida track that injured jockeys Romero Maragh and Carlos Montalvo. The suspension was lengthened due to multiple occurrences “of being reprimanded, fined or suspended.”
The Gulfstream Park-based jockey has 60 wins on 320 starts in 2019, totaling nearly $2.4 million in earnings.