LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The jockey who rode his way to the winner’s circle for the Kentucky Derby is facing tens of thousands of dollars in fines for violating a rule in the derby.

The Kentucky Board of Stewards said jockey Junior Alvarado is in violation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s riding crop rule.

What You Need To Know

  • Jockey Junior Alvarado was fined and suspended for using the riding crop more than six times in the derby race, a HISA rule

  • HISA said Alvarado was fined $62,000 and has a two-day race suspension

  • His punishment was doubled because it's his second offense in 180 days

  • Alvarado has not yet appealed 

The Kentucky Board of Stewards said Alvarado struck his horse, Sovereignty, eight times, that’s two more than the limit. 

“Don’t even think for one second that in the Kentucky Derby, he was abusing that horse. He was not. He did break the rule,” said Marc Guilfoil director of stewarding and racing commission relations for HISA.

HISA said Alvarado was fined $62,000 and has a two-day race suspension.

“I will say this it’s a stiff penalty,” Guilfoil said.

HISA said all jockey crop fines are going toward Onrise, a jockey mental health program.

Their records show this is Alvarado’s ninth riding crop violation since the racetrack safety program took effect in 2022. Experts said jockeys have had a hard time adjusting to the rule.

“It’s a tricky thing because of the course of the race, they’re having to count one, two, three, four, five, six and then stop and in the excitement of the moment, particularly a major race like the Kentucky Derby, you could see how it would certainly happen that someone could lose track,” said Byron King, horse racing expert.

Guilfoil said fans don’t want to see horses getting hit—so HISA limits the action to get more people to watch the sport. 

“The crowd doesn’t understand if they see somebody with an exaggerated, over their head, that looks like they’re trying to cut a horse in a half, you turn fans off,” Guilfoil said.

Alvarado’s two extra strikes landed him a class three violation, costing him 10% of his part of the purse, which was then doubled because it’s his second violation in 180 days. He is also suspended from racing on May 29 and 30, 2025.

“Did it affect the outcome? Probably not, but at the same time, in fairness to the other competitors, I think you have to try to ensure that all the participants follow the rules,” King said.

Alvarado has ten days from Friday, May 9, 2025, to appeal the decision.

According to Guilfoil, HISA’s safety committee has approved the Jockeys’ Guild proposal to reduce the multi offense window from 180 days to 90. 

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