In addition to providing plenty of entertainment for spectators at Churchill Downs and throughout the nation, the Kentucky Derby brings in millions of dollars for the owners of the winning horses. The welfare of the event’s focal point, the horses, has long been questioned, though.

Fortunately, regulations in horse racing are in place to protect the health and safety of every competing thoroughbred. However, one of the horses was allegedly struck too many times during the televised race on Saturday, May 3, raising the possibility that a major rule was broken during the 151st Kentucky Derby.

The race was won by the gorgeous #18 horse, Sovereignty, whose jockey Junior Alvarado rode in his first-ever Run for the Roses appearance over the weekend.

The jockey is currently under investigation, though, for how he handled Sovereignty throughout the race.Alvarado will be fined for “excessive use of the whip” on the horse, according to “Bloodhorse.”

Jocks are only permitted to use the crop up to six times per HISA regulations.

He struck the horse at least seven times, according to the publication, including when Sovereignty had a commanding lead close to the sixteenth pole.

Alvarado claimed that after winning the race, he became aware that he had been using the whip excessively.

“It’s such a massive event, there’s so much that you’re on your mind,” he said to the publication, adding, “I couldn’t keep track of that.”

He couldn’t have been thinking about hitting the horse too many times to win, but he could now be fined.

According to HISA regulations, he faces a $250 fine or 10% of the jockey’s share of the prize, whichever is higher, for going 1-3 strikes above the six-strike limit if it is determined that he did.

The fee is anticipated to be $31,000, with the jockey typically receiving a compensation of $310,000 and the Kentucky Derby winner receiving $3.1 million.

“I was not running at ten (lengths).” Alvarado, a jockey since 2007, stated, “I was right near to the favorite when the extra whip happened, and I had to do what I needed to do at the time.” “I noticed after viewing the tape that I went over, but I didn’t have time to consider it. All I wanted was to win America’s biggest race.

Alvarado can lose three license points and be suspended for one day in addition to the fine.

Alvarado told the source, “I’m going to have to accept the penalty that I am most likely going to receive.” “I’m powerless to help.”

Alvarado was unanimously chosen as the week’s Jockey of the Week by a panel of racing experts, despite acknowledging that he had struck the horse too frequently.

The reasons Sovereignty won’t compete for the Triple Crown

On May 7, Sovereignty made a final appearance at the Churchill Downs track before heading to the Saratoga Race Course. Taking a mile-long jog around the outer rail of the course he had just crushed at the Derby, he appeared healthy.

Trainer Kenny McCarthy informed “BloodHorse” on May 7 that Bill simply wanted him to stretch his legs and go for a jog around there. Sovereignty appeared to be quite content with himself. Everything proceeded as smoothly and quietly as we prefer.

The Derby winner’s team declared on Tuesday that Sovereignty will not be attending the Preakness on May 17 to try to capture a Triple Crown. In order to give him more time to recuperate before competing again, his owners have made the decision to forego the Preakness in favor of what is best for him.

On June 7, he will instead participate in the Belmont Stakes.

In recent years, fewer horses have continued to compete in the Triple Crown.

Trainer Bill Mott of Sovereignty stated, “Over the years, folks have recognized that spacing these horses out a little bit provides you the ability to make them endure a little longer,” as reported by the “Courier-Journal.”

“You want the career to endure more than five weeks, and we’re looking at a career,” he continued.

Rich Strike was the last Kentucky Derby victor to miss the Preakness in 2022.

Although they are both expected to compete in the Belmont Stakes, third-place finisher Baez and seventh-place fan favorite Sandman are both reportedly planning to attend the Preakness.

Social media influencer Griffin Johnson, one of Sandman’s proprietors, verified the information in a video uploaded to TikTok on Monday.

In response to a follower’s question about the gorgeous grey horse’s future in a video comment, Johnson wrote, “Waiting for trainer confirmation but looking like Belmont is next.”

In the days ahead, the whole 2025 Preakness roster will be confirmed. With limited time to recuperate, a number of trainers of horses that participated in this year’s Kentucky Derby will have to face the difficult choice of whether to send their horses back out to compete.

On Monday, American Promise—who placed 16th in this year’s Derby—was officially confirmed for the Preakness.

The big horse was expected to finish higher than he did, even though he had a rough journey in this year’s muddy and rainy Derby.

Sovereignty, this year’s Derby champion, is a fifth-generation Secretariat descendent.

The third son of He’s Into Mischief to win a Kentucky Derby. In the racing industry, the sire’s offspring earnings of almost $30 million make him the first stallion in history.

 

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