Suspended by HISA, Lopez Continues Riding in Louisiana

Jockey Paco Lopez, suspended six months by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Sept. 23 for what it said were riding violations of a conditional reinstatement, is named to ride in six races at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Nov. 20, opening day of its meet. HISA's suspension has prevented Lopez from riding at most tracks across the United States, but not everywhere. A small number of states, including Louisiana—where Fair Grounds is located—are not subject to HISA jurisdiction, owing to court rulings in separate long-running legal proceedings contesting HISA's constitutionality. Some other HISA-suspended individuals, including trainers sanctioned for positive tests of their horses involving prohibited substances, have shifted their operations to Louisiana or West Virginia, another state not under HISA jurisdiction. Since late October, Lopez has ridden at Delta Downs, a smaller track in the state located in Vinton, winning aboard four horses from 11 mounts. He will ride at both Delta Downs and Fair Grounds in New Orleans this winter, agent Jose Garcia confirmed to Fair Grounds publicity. During past winters, Lopez has mostly ridden at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania and Gulfstream Park in Florida. Those states are under HISA oversight, meaning Lopez is currently unable to ride there. Lopez was initially given a lengthy suspension by HISA late last year, which carried into January, for using his riding crop to strike National Law, a then-2-year-old, in the head/neck area while slowing to a walk after a gallop-out. The colt had just won a one-mile-and-70-yard maiden special weight race while racing erratically in the stretch, nearly running into the outside railing. Lopez apologized on social media for that incident. He was reinstated and his suspension was reduced from two years to 45 days for meeting the conditions HISA required, including "demonstrating his commitment to upholding the standards of conduct and integrity expected of participants in horse racing." But this summer, he was again given another extended suspension by HISA for multiple violations, including raising the riding crop above his helmet, in urging Book'em Danno to victory in the Aug. 23 Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Lopez rides in a more hunched position than some other riders, often with his head tilted downward. Following HISA's most recent action, several jockeys across the country spoke out in opposition to the length of the 6-month suspension given to Lopez, including Hall of Famer John Velazquez. Surrounded by members of the New York jockey colony in a Fox Sports interview, the Jockeys' Guild co-chairman expressed concerns and called a six-month suspension "very excessive." Despite not riding this year until Jan. 25 and being away from riding for more than a month this fall before heading to Louisiana, Lopez is the winningest rider in the country this year with 304 victories from 1,205 mounts. For all his success, Lopez has often been sanctioned, either for the use of the crop or for other infractions, including careless riding or failing to ride out a mount to the finish. The ongoing six-month suspension issued to Lopez by HISA was unanimously ordered by its board. The board noted Lopez's eight violations this year of raising the wrist above the helmet, far more than any other jockey. According to a HISA ruling, on May 14, after his sixth violation this spring, HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus emailed Drew Mollica, counsel for Lopez, expressing her concern about his continued infractions and asking that her message be relayed that "raising the crop with his wrist above the helmet is unacceptable." She offered to speak with him, writing, "My goal is not to penalize him, but instead to encourage him to comply with the rules."