Kentucky Derby Controversy--You Decide

Louisville Courier Journal ^ | May 11, 2003 | damper99

[damper99]

Derby photo of jockey investigated Santos carried nothing but whip, his attorney says -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By JENNIE REES jrees@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal

This image is enlarged from a Getty images photo that was e-mailed to a state racing steward at Churchill Downs on Thursday. It was taken as Jose Santos changed the whip position in his hand after crossing the finish line.

By James Squire/Getty Images

This enlarged AP photo was taken from a slightly different angle at about the same time as the Getty Images picture and shows the green silks of Empire Maker's jockey through Santos' hand.

AP Photo

This enlarged Courier-Journal photo was taken moments before the Getty and AP images as Santos started the whip's movement that resulted in th controversial hand position.

C-J Photo by James H. Wallace

Racing stewards at Churchill Downs are investigating whether jockey Jose Santos was carrying a prohibited item in his right hand when he rode 12-1 long shot Funny Cide to a dramatic victory in the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

The investigation was prompted by an inquiry by the Miami Herald, which yesterday published a picture of Santos that an accompanying story said raised question about whether he was holding something other than his whip when he crossed the finish line.

[IYAS9YAS]

I agree with what you said. I saw an enlarged photo and the color of the "object" matches the color of the jersey of the rider behind him. Took me about two minutes to find that enlargement on a local news site and about 30 seconds to conclude that he's holding the whip between his thumb and forefinger and just has his trailing fingers curled a bit. I know I'm a day late, but I didn't get to the web yesterday.

[1Old Pro]

NOT GUILTY, let's move on.

[Fred Mertz]

I've been told that if an electronic shocker/whatever device was used, it would be in the hand NOT holding the riding crop. My source has seen them used in the past, but not in this race.

[BushCountry]

Oche! Of course you are right, but I'd would consider being castrated a sex change!

[try phecta tom]

That is usaully true, but the whip is also used as a rudder. The hosre "runs away" from the whip. If a horse tiring, begins to drift to the right the jockey will whip him right-handed to rederct him to the left and vice versa. If he's holding a buzzer and attempts to do this it is much rougher to do but with practice.... As a matter of fact, back in the day, they would train the horse with the buzzer to familiarize it to what was about to happen hoping that an overt reaction wouldn't become obvious during the race itself.