Racing doesn’t survive by pretending to be perfect

Stand up, no shot

In my previous column I asked a simple, uncomfortable question: “It’s all about the horse, but what about the rooster?” At the time, I watched a grainy, unverified video and hoped – for the sake of sport – that it was a deepfake. I then argued that for a leading jockey to participate in cockfighting is not just a ‘bad impression’, but a moral, ethical and legal disaster that exposes the industry’s animal welfare talk as performative.

Since then the story has exploded. PETA has officially called on the Eclipse Awards to ban Irad and Jose Ortiz after a video surfaced of them “working the ring” and taking money during a cockfight in Puerto Rico. Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) picked up the story and reported that while PETA claims 100% certainty about the brothers’ identities, their agent has made “no comment.” Meanwhile, the reaction from some in the racing community has been, quite frankly, terrible.

The ‘culture’ defense: A rationalization of brutality

The social media comments are a masterclass in moral compartmentalization. We see public figures like Carlo Vaccarezza dismiss the reports as “BS” simply because they come from PETA. Others hide behind the “culture” argument and claim that because it is “tradition” in Puerto Rico, it should not matter here.

Let’s be clear: Culture is not a suicide pact for your conscience. When someone hides behind the word “culture” to defend cockfighting, he is not defending heritage; they excuse cruelty. Breeding animals to mutilate each other for entertainment reflects a tolerance for suffering that is the definition of moral stagnation. History is littered with ‘traditions’ that society eventually had a conscience to abandon:

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Often justified as ‘purity’ or ‘tradition’, but internationally recognized as a violation of human rights.
• Stoning and honor killing: It is still practiced in small groups under the guise of customary law, but is challenged worldwide as premeditated murder and trauma.
• Child marriage: Framed as poverty alleviation or protection, but leading to lifelong health risks and dependency.
• Violent animal blood sports: Like cockfighting, bullfighting or dogfighting, these are increasingly rejected as societies revalue cruelty for entertainment.

Just because a practice is historic does not mean it should be continued. Calling torture “culture” does not elevate the act; it merely exposes the character of the person it defends.

The intellectual trap: the messenger versus the message

The racing world harbors a reflexive, deep-seated hatred of PETA. It’s understandable: PETA often misrepresents the facts, and race managers and fans believe their end goal is the abolition of the sport. But if you automatically reject everything they say, you fall into an intellectual trap. You end up defending the indefensible simply because you don’t like who’s pointing it out.

• The truth doesn’t change sweaters. If a trainer abuses medications or a license holder participates in animal torture, the facts remain the facts, regardless of who reports it. I’m not talking about tiny surpluses, I’m talking about abuse. There is a difference.
• The position of ‘adults’: We can acknowledge that PETA is a hostile messenger, while admitting that in this particular case the message is based on reality.
• Selective Empathy: You can’t claim that it’s ‘all about the horse’ and then shrug when a rooster is forced to fight with razor-sharp knives at his feet. Animal welfare is a principle, not a PR slogan.

A failure of leadership and integrity

The legal reality is also non-negotiable. Cockfighting is one federal crime in all U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, under the Animal Welfare Act. The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld this ban and rejected claims that it violates cultural rights. If a licensed participant in a regulated gambling industry is seen handling cash in an illegal, underground gambling ring, it is a huge breach of integrity.

When the industry remains silent, or hides behind HISA’s current claim that it has no jurisdiction because the act did not occur on an ‘indoor circuit’, we are telling the world that our animal welfare standards are worth absolutely nothing.

The path to responsibility: a call to action

The sector can no longer afford the ‘no comment’ strategy. To move from performative well-being to true integrity, the following steps must be taken immediately:

• To the Eclipse Award Steering Committee:
  • Set up a morality and integrity clause: Establish clear eligibility requirements that disqualify any nominee whose conduct is detrimental to the interests of racing.
  • Immediate suspension of eligibility: Bar Irad and Jose Ortiz have been barred from future Outstanding Jockey nominations until a full, transparent investigation into the 2025 video is completed and the results are made public. Once they have done this, if they have indeed engaged in this deplorable act, give them the opportunity to address it and then, depending on their actions and not words, be reinstated. Everyone deserves a chance to see the error of their ways and mistakes.
• For racing jurisdictions and state commissions:
  • Expand the definition of “conduct detrimental to racing”: Jurisdictions must stipulate that participation in animal fighting – regardless of location – is grounds for immediate license suspension or revocation. The fact that this did not happen is a testament to the incompetence of the industry’s leaders.
  • Reciprocity and federal coordination: State governments should exercise their power to investigate out-of-line behavior, recognizing that federal law makes attending a cockfight a crime in all U.S. jurisdictions.
• For the NTRA and HISA:
  • Close the legal loophole: HISA should reassess its position on “off-track” behavior. If a jockey’s license is based on the humane treatment of animals, their participation in a blood sport is directly relevant to their fitness to ride.
  • Recognize and investigate: Stop hiding behind the “unverified” label. Engage forensic experts to confirm the authenticity of the video and be transparent about the outcome.

Racing doesn’t survive by pretending to be perfect. It survives by proving that it can correct itself faster than its critics can weaponize its shortcomings. We know better now. It’s time to act on it.

We all know how talented and what great riders Irad and Jose are. We also know how great they “can be” for the game. I’m not writing this to hurt them. Rather, I’m writing it to help them and the sport I love. Act accordingly.