LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHNT) — The jockey who rode the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby has been fined by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for striking his horse with a crop more times than the rules allow.
The Kentucky Board of Stewards announced on Friday that, after a hearing into Junior Alvarado, the jockey who rode Sovereignty to victory in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, it was determined that he violated HISA Rule 2280 (b)(2).
Under this rule, the jockey is allowed to strike their horse with the crop “a maximum of 6 times during a race.”
Per the Board of Stewards, Alvarado reportedly used his crop eight times on Sovereignty during the Kentucky Derby on May 3. The Board also said that this is his second offense of this rule in 180 days.
Because of this, Alvarado has 30 days to pay a $62,000 fine, pursuant to HISA Rule 2283 (c)(1). This rule demonstrates the fine as “1 prior violation + current violation = 2 x fine and 2 x suspension day(s) of the current violation.”
Below is the HISA Racetrack Safety Program Rulebook, which outlines all the rules associated with horse racing. HISA Rule 2280 (b)(2) is listed on page 94/95 of the rulebook and HISA Rule 2283 (c)(1) is listed on page 100/101. Also linked is the Board of Stewards Ruling cover page, which outlines the hearing and ruling date of this incident.
Based on this rule, Alvarado is suspended for two Kentucky racing days, May 29 and May 30.
Alvarado and Sovereignty won the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Journalism was the favorite to win the race, but Sovereignty pulled away and ran 1.25 miles in 2:02.31, the Associated Press said.
On May 6, it was announced that Sovereignty would not be racing in the Preakness Stakes, meaning he would forego his chance at the Triple Crown.
AP reported that trainer Bill Mott told Preakness officials that “the plan will be to enter Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown, on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.”
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