Del Mar Stewards Send Desormeaux Riding Case to CHRB

After what they called an "informal hearing" Aug. 26 with Kent Desormeaux, the Del Mar stewards have "handed over" to California Horse Racing Board investigators a case related to the Hall of Fame jockey's ride aboard Take a Leap in the fourth race at Del Mar Aug. 25.

The stewards said the reasons they called Desormeaux in for review was whip use early in the stretch and about the rider's actions in the final 100 yards of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Take a Leap was clearly in second position in the final sixteenth and was passed by Room to Finish at the wire to lose second by a nose.

"One (reason) was use of the whip at the top of the lane (for which he was fined), and the other was for the last 100 yards," said steward John Herbuveaux.

When asked to specify what their concern was with the last 100 yards of the race, the stewards declined to do so.

"We wanted to hear his explanation for the last 100 yards," said Herbuveaux, who, when asked to clarify said, "better not."

Desormeaux responded Sunday and indicated the inquiry into his actions was about whether he stopped riding as Take a Leap approached the wire, an allegation he denied.

"I explained to them at length that I absolutely had a strong hand ride (until) two jumps past the wire," Desormeaux said. "They accepted my explanation and said they turned it over to the CHRB for further investigation."

The stewards said they "listened" to Desormeaux but indicated the case was not settled.

"There's more to follow," said steward Grant Baker. "We had an informal hearing today. We're handing it over to our enforcement unit for further investigation, with the potential of a formal hearing."

"We're trying to cross our t's and dot our i's," added steward Kim Sawyer.

When pressed about whether they could have taken action on their own, rather than forwarding the case to CHRB investigators, the stewards said it was within their power to sanction the rider.

Desormeaux was sanctioned for a similar issue in the past. He was fined $500 for his ride aboard Peppermint Kitty on Sept. 25, 2016, at Los Alamitos Race Course, when stewards determined he "stood up before the finish line." In that race, Peppermint Kitty lost third-place position by a nose.