The Jockeys' Guild on Sept. 25 issued the following statement opposing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's decision to suspend jockey Paco Lopez for six months. The statement has been lightly edited.
The notice issued by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority against Paco Lopez Sept. 22, 2025 for "immediate suspension for six months" is absolutely uncalled for and beyond ludicrous.
This is just the latest in an extensive list of jockeys who have been assessed outlandish fines and penalties for the use of the riding crop.
The Jockeys' Guild is in no way condoning the actions of Paco on Dec. 3, 2024 at Parx Racing aboard National Law. His actions out of frustration and fear were indeed wrong. However, after Lopez worked with his counsel, the Guild, and HISA, he entered into an agreed order of a conditional reinstatement with HISA.
At the time of his reinstatement in January of this year, HISA acknowledged that Lopez served a suspension, participated in anger management, made donations to both Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and demonstrated remorse in his actions. While the terms of the original agreement are confidential, the Guild stands firm that this suspension based on the infractions of the use of the riding crop since his reinstatement in which Lopez has raised his wrist above his helmet, have absolutely zero correlation to type of conduct he demonstrated on National Law at Parx.
Since the inception of HISA, the Guild has and continues to adamantly dispute HISA Rules 2280. "Use of the Riding Crop" and 2282. "Riding Crop Violations and Penalties" as the rules are unreasonable and the penalties are draconian and far exceed the violations. It should be recognized that raising "the crop with the Jockey's wrist above the Jockey's helmet when using the crop" does not fall under the penalties in Rule 2282 (b) and stewards have the authority to penalize the jockeys under Rule 8200 (b).
The Guild has continued to argue that the "punishment must fit the crime." In addition to the absurdity of the penalties in Rule 2282 (b) regarding the strike number count, the Guild also has argued that penalties for all other riding crop infractions under Rule 2280 should be at the discretion of the stewards.
The Guild and all of its members have always maintained that the safety and well-being of BOTH our equine and human athletes is paramount. We, as an industry, have an obligation to protect and maintain the standards, as well as the integrity of our sport.
However, to invite members of the People of the Ethical Treatment of Animals and others to dictate or spearhead investigations such as this, is a very slippery downward slope. PETA has proudly claimed responsibility, following a complaint filed by them with HISA, that Lopez was immediately suspended. This is absolutely unacceptable.
The original purpose of HISA was to create consistency and uniformity of the rules and regulations of horse racing and the Guild had always been a proponent of such. In an effort to work for the best interest of horse racing, the Guild has attempted to have a strong working relationship with HISA and its staff. There have been great strides made for the jockeys in raising awareness for mental health, as well as medical standards for the racetracks.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
