Espinoza Fined for Riding Crop Use on Express Train

Victor Espinoza, who rode C R K's Express Train  to a head victory in the $651,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1) March 5, was one of five riders sanctioned by Santa Anita Park stewards for riding crop violations on the stakes-laden Saturday program.

Espinoza was fined $1,500 for the use of the crop more than six times aboard Express Train, and Ricky Gonzalez was fined an equivalent amount for that same infraction aboard tiring frontrunning winner Leggs Galore  in the $202,500 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T). Espinoza's ruling stated it was his second violation in the last 60 days.

Stewards also docked Brice Blanc $500 for a crop violation in his ride aboard the maiden Lil Bro Coop , who finished third in the seventh race Saturday.

Two other jockeys, European Jamie Spencer and the locally-based Edwin Maldonado, were suspended for riding-crop infractions Saturday. Stewards gave Spencer five days for excessive use of the riding crop on Space Traveller , who finished second by a head in the $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T). Maldonado was given three days for overhanded crop use in riding See Through It  to a fifth-place finish in an allowance that opened the card.

California's riding-crop rules do not permit overhand strikes, nor is a jockey to use the crop more than six times in a race or more than two times in succession without giving a horse a chance to respond. 

Some jockeys and bettors have been critical of the regulations, believing the rules can limit a rider from encouraging a horse to achieve its best possible placing. The rules are among numerous equine welfare regulations passed in recent years by the CHRB.

Jockeys Florent Geroux and E. T. Baird were fined $5,000 apiece for riding-crop violations during the Breeders' Cup in November, a sharp increase from the customary penalties of $500 to $1,000. The California Horse Racing Board gave stewards last year the authority to increase fines in high-value contests such as the Breeders' Cup to prevent overuse of the crop. 

Counting other infractions, such as actions toward jockeys for careless riding, Santa Anita stewards issued 11 rulings March 4-7.

One of those other rulings was a suspension to Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who stewards wrote failed to appear to answer charges of disorderly conduct and not abiding by a substance abuse agreement.

Desormeaux, who has battled alcohol use and has a history of legal troubles, was arrested in late January in his native Louisiana. He hasn't ridden anywhere since Jan. 23.

A California Horse Racing Board complaint alleges Desormeaux got into a disturbance with his girlfriend at the RV park area of Del Mar Nov. 23, and that he admitted to drinking throughout the year.

Also this past week, stewards fined trainer Mark Glatt $500 for Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and Sterling Stables' Beer Can Man  testing positive for dexamethasone (Class 4, Penalty Class C) after the colt's runner-up finish in the Jan. 1 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.