2011 Belmont Stakes: Rajiv Maragh Suspended for Careless Riding

The Stewards from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board handed a 10-day suspension to jockey Rajiv Maragh for careless riding aboard Isn't He Perfect in the 2011 Belmont Stakes.

The Stewards had called for a meeting Wednesday morning with jockeys Maragh, Ramon Dominguez and John Velazquez, to review an incident that took place a few jumps after the break out of the gate at the June 11 Belmont Stakes.

After the review the Stewards determined that Maragh did not make his best effort and permitted Isn’t He Perfect to come over on Mucho Macho Man, who as a result bumped Kentucky Derby winner and Belmont Stakes favorite Animal Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom, who closed as the 5:2 favorite, stumbled and almost fell after clipping heels with Prime Cut. Velazquez, who was the jockey on Animal Kingdom, had his foot out of the left stirrup for about a 16th of a mile. Animal Kingdom’s chances went down the drain immediately after that.

The start of the Belmont Stakes has been a hot topic, even more than the actual result of the race. And it got even hotter after jockey Velazquez said on Sunday, that Maragh's actions were not only careless, they were intentional.

As reported by the Daily Racing Form, Maragh received a 10-day suspension for careless riding, but three days were eliminated by virtue of Rajiv waiving his right of appeal.

The suspension would finish on June 25, unless Maragh rides the New York Stakes that very same day. The reason for this is a designated race rule, which would allow Maragh to ride the New York Stakes but would then have to serve an additional day, June 26.

“I wasn’t 100 percent clear of Mucho Macho Man, so I could have done a better job,” Maragh told the DRF.

Velazquez told the DRF, “We all make mistakes, we got to move on, got to leave it behind; I got to do a job today and the next day.”

It’s been said that Velazquez and Maragh spoke and ended up shaking hands. Apparently they seem to have both turn the page on this one. Once again, it seems like it.

Up to this moment, Velazquez has not said he regrets saying the words he said last Sunday. Meanwhile, Maragh insists that Velazquez knows it was not intentional. This point doesn’t seem settled.

This is not the first, nor will be the last time an incident like this happens during a race. It comes a time where we must revise the fines and suspensions being handed, in order to reduce the amount of times things like this happen.

Rajiv got a 10-day suspension. It doesn’t seem like a harsh punishment for someone who was careless in a race the magnitude of a Belmont Stakes.

Velazquez has expressed concern about this, and it should be treated according to the race. They should be evaluated on a race by race basis, and the fines and/or suspensions should go accordingly.

It’s should be like the driving infractions. The bigger the fee, more the jockeys will remember it before committing the same mistake twice.

For now, this is the ruling on the review and it stands. Hopefully, we can get to avoid these interferences and have all horses run equal opportunities during a race most of the times.