Jocky Fight at Philly
- Thread starter Another Steve
- Start date
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INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
By Mike Jensen
Two jockeys at Philadelphia Park got into a fistfight yesterday, which wouldn't be big news - except the jockeys were riding in the fifth race when the brawl broke out.
Divine Light, ridden by Eriluis Vaz, was disqualified after Vaz punched Mi Helena's jockey, Ademar Santos, in the face as their horses rode along the backstretch. Neither horse finsihed in the money.
After Vaz threw his punch, a replay showed that Santos appeared to punch Vaz right back. Then Vaz nailed Santos with his whip.
Santos said Vaz had veered toward him three times before the blows began.
"I asked, 'Man, why you go like that?'" Santos sdaid. "Then he hit me in the face . . . in the mouth."
Santos said he "reflexed", but contended he did not connect with the throw he tried to throw back at Vaz. Vaz responded by whipping him in the upper back, Santos said.
Lou Albertrani, the agent for Vaz, said he couldn't comment because he hadn't yet seen the race and hadn't talked to Vaz.
"My rider said, 'I got hit in the face; I've got to do something,' " said Carson Phelps, the agent for Santos. "It looked like [Vaz] was trying to knock him off the horse."
Mi Helena wasn't disqualified, but John Scanlan, the horse's trainer, wasn't absolving his jockey. The trainer was livid.
"He's fired forever riding for me," Scanlan said. "I've been in this game for 50 years. I've only seen this once before, on a film."
"There were 11 horses in the race, and a lot of other horses were getting banged around because of it," Scanlan said. "We were lucky there wasn't a spill. They should get a penalty and get it big."
"He could have destroyed half the field," Phelps said of Vaz.
It wasn't clear what caused the fight to begin. The horses were in close proximity but hadn't collided, Scanlan said, when Vaz steered his horse over and punched Santos.
A steward, who wouldn't give his name, confirmed the basic events of the race - "they were engaging in blows" - and said a hearing would be scheduled. It wouldn't take place for at least 10 days.
Santos said he will be at this morning's weekly meeting that stewards hold with Philadelphia Park's jockeys when the previous week's races are replayed.
Scanlan said he told Santos: " 'You should have taken it upstairs in the jocks' room. That's the way it's always been.'
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
By Mike Jensen
Two jockeys at Philadelphia Park got into a fistfight yesterday, which wouldn't be big news - except the jockeys were riding in the fifth race when the brawl broke out.
Divine Light, ridden by Eriluis Vaz, was disqualified after Vaz punched Mi Helena's jockey, Ademar Santos, in the face as their horses rode along the backstretch. Neither horse finsihed in the money.
After Vaz threw his punch, a replay showed that Santos appeared to punch Vaz right back. Then Vaz nailed Santos with his whip.
Santos said Vaz had veered toward him three times before the blows began.
"I asked, 'Man, why you go like that?'" Santos sdaid. "Then he hit me in the face . . . in the mouth."
Santos said he "reflexed", but contended he did not connect with the throw he tried to throw back at Vaz. Vaz responded by whipping him in the upper back, Santos said.
Lou Albertrani, the agent for Vaz, said he couldn't comment because he hadn't yet seen the race and hadn't talked to Vaz.
"My rider said, 'I got hit in the face; I've got to do something,' " said Carson Phelps, the agent for Santos. "It looked like [Vaz] was trying to knock him off the horse."
Mi Helena wasn't disqualified, but John Scanlan, the horse's trainer, wasn't absolving his jockey. The trainer was livid.
"He's fired forever riding for me," Scanlan said. "I've been in this game for 50 years. I've only seen this once before, on a film."
"There were 11 horses in the race, and a lot of other horses were getting banged around because of it," Scanlan said. "We were lucky there wasn't a spill. They should get a penalty and get it big."
"He could have destroyed half the field," Phelps said of Vaz.
It wasn't clear what caused the fight to begin. The horses were in close proximity but hadn't collided, Scanlan said, when Vaz steered his horse over and punched Santos.
A steward, who wouldn't give his name, confirmed the basic events of the race - "they were engaging in blows" - and said a hearing would be scheduled. It wouldn't take place for at least 10 days.
Santos said he will be at this morning's weekly meeting that stewards hold with Philadelphia Park's jockeys when the previous week's races are replayed.
Scanlan said he told Santos: " 'You should have taken it upstairs in the jocks' room. That's the way it's always been.'
