THIS is the controversial ride that got a jockey banned for 30 days – and meant the trainer’s son won the race.
Stewards acted after noticing jockey Luis Raul Rivera’s ‘lacklustre’ ride on Barefoot Beach, trained by Jeffrey Radosevich.
Jockey Rivera did not contest his 30-day ban for a controversial race aboard this horse – which meant the trainer’s son won on the horse to his inside
Out My Dear won after Rivera’s ‘lacklustre effort’ on Barefoot Beach
Rivera looked to be cruising on the 7-1 shot before being pipped late on by 9-5 Out My Dear, trained by Jeffrey’s son Justin.
Barefoot Beach was Justin’s first winner as a trainer and the filly was previously trained by his dad.
Stewards opened an investigation into the ride at Youngstown track in Ohio, US.
Paulickreport.com said the stewards ‘unanimously believed’ Rivera was ‘very lacklustre’ on Barefoot Beach.
The ruling read: “The board of stewards unanimously believed that Rivera’s effort aboard his charge was very lacklustre and was not consistent with the manner he normally rides all previous horses we reviewed over the past month.
“The board also believes this lack of effort by Rivera resulted in Out My Dear winning this event.
“Rivera was also reprimanded for his lack of effort and made aware that this action is not only an egregious infraction of the rules and regulations but is not in the best interest of sport either.”
Rivera declined to appeal the ban – but his suspension sparked a furious outburst from Radosevich Snr.
He said: “They’re trying to say he pulled the horse. It’s bull crap.
“If I felt my rider quit riding, I would have fired him off everything.
“Luis Rivera does not do that. There shouldn’t have been anything done. What they did was crazy.
“When I ran the horse back in the same spot, she was the favorite and ran a bad seventh under the same rider.
“If anyone else had won it, nothing would have happened.”
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/matt-chapman-mischievous-davy-russell-always-left-me-fascinated-his-retirement-is-the-end-of-the-old-guard/
