NJ Stewards Suspend Lopez, Juarez After DQ, Altercation

New Jersey stewards have issued suspensions to jockeys Paco Lopez and Nik Juarez, the former for careless riding in the seventh race at Monmouth Park July 1 and the latter for "initiating a physical confrontation" after the race.

In a ruling issued July 7, Lopez is hereby suspended for five New Jersey racing days, July 29, 2022, through and including Aug. 1, 2022, and Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, for changing paths aboard Midnight Diva  without sufficient clearance, causing La Costa , under Juarez, to clip heels and "stumble badly, losing all chance" in an allowance race on the turf. Juarez managed to stay aboard his mount and pulled her up. She walked off the track after the race.

Following an inquiry and claim of foul, Midnight Diva was disqualified from third and placed last, the race chart indicates.

Juarez received an eight-day suspension, from July 15-July 22, plus a $500 fine in a ruling issued July 10.

Leland Moore, public information officer for the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and a spokesperson for the New Jersey Racing Commission, wrote in an email that the altercation initiated by Juarez toward Lopez occurred in the scales area at Monmouth Park. Juarez had not appealed or sought a stay as of early afternoon on July 13, Moore indicated.

Lopez has received lengthy suspensions on multiple occasions for riding infractions, including a 14-day suspension this year for his ride in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in piloting In Due Time  to a runner-up finish. Two horses fell in the race, and their riders were unseated.

Twice in the first half of 2019, Lopez also received 30-day suspensions from Gulfstream stewards for careless riding. At the time of his first 2019 suspension, Stephen DiMauro, associate steward at Gulfstream Park, noted Lopez's suspension was lengthened due to multiple occurrences "of being either reprimanded or fined or suspended."

Lopez, eight times the meet-leading rider at Monmouth Park, holds a commanding lead in the current Monmouth riding standings with 48 victories through July 12. Juarez is seventh with 10 wins.

The two jockeys finished 1-2 in the standings during the 2019 meet at Monmouth when Lopez edged Juarez by a 109-107 win margin.

Post-race confrontations among jockeys are not uncommon, though they more often occur in the jockeys' room after a race than in public view.

Gulfstream Park stewards fined Irad Ortiz Jr. $1,000 for punching a seated Lopez in March 2021 after a race at Gulfstream. The altercation was captured on track cameras.

In another high-profile incident, Hall of Fame jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano were fined $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, for fighting in the winner's circle area after the 2010 Breeders' Cup Marathon (G3) at Churchill Downs. Borel received the larger fine for initiating the winner's circle skirmish.