Junior Alvarado, the jockey who rode Sovereignty to victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby, has been suspended and fined for violating crop use rules during the race.
Racing officials reported that Alvarado struck the winning colt eight times—two more than the allowed limit of six.
The penalty, issued by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), includes a $62,000 fine and a suspension for two racing days at Churchill Downs. The fine reflects a doubled penalty due to a prior offense and is based on 20% of Alvarado’s $310,000 share of the Derby winnings.
Sovereignty’s dramatic win on May 3 marked Alvarado’s first Derby triumph, as well as the first for the horse’s owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The three-year-old colt, trained by seasoned professional William Mott, outpaced favorite Journalism in the final stretch.
The suspension brings renewed attention to racing regulations that limit how often jockeys can strike their mounts with the crop, a rule aimed at improving animal welfare. Though crop use has long been a part of the sport, tighter restrictions have been introduced in recent years to address growing concerns over the treatment of horses.
Alvarado will be sidelined for two days of competition, a brief but notable pause in what has been a career-defining moment for the rider. Meanwhile, Sovereignty’s win remains intact, but the penalty serves as a reminder that even historic victories must meet the standards of modern racing ethics.