Winningest American jockey suspended for six months before brutal swing violations after PETA complaint
PETA staff issue – After a complaint filed by PETA, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) today announced that Jockey Paco Lopez will be suspended for six months for taking offenses, including in the $ 500,000 grade 1 Stakes on Saratoga Race Course. Lopez, who leads the country in the wins, raging his wrist above his helmet of the horse books in the profits.
Although Lopez currently has 300 victories this year, more than any other jockey, the suspension will now probably cost him the leading jockey title for 2025.
After submitting the complaint, PETA Video obtained from recent races showing that Lopez appears to have violated the whip rule in several other tracks in several races, including in two yesterday and in two Investations on Parx Racing in Pennsylvania.
A screenshot from Jockey Paco Lopez who raises his wrist above his helmet while he touches the horse book Danno on the Saratoga Race Course.
“Lopez wins by beating the horses and breaking the rules,” says Peta Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “This suspension should reconsider him, and Peta is grateful to Hisa for handing out this stiff punishment.”
Lopez was struck with 22 Whip violations since the HISA racing track Safety Program came into force in July 2022 and was suspended earlier this year by HISA when he raised his wrist above his helmet while hit horses in three races. He was suspended in December because he had looked a horse well after the finish line exceeded, apparently punished the horse, but he was allowed to return to racing 46 days later. In February he again raised his wrist above his helmet before he hit horses in three races and was suspended for one day.
Horses have excellent sensitive skin that a flying country can feel, but in the race industry they are physically punished to make them run faster.
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