Overview

• Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended for two Kentucky racing days for striking his horse, Sovereignty, eight times during the Derby, surpassing HISA’s six-strike limit.
• The penalty was doubled under HISA’s escalating structure due to this being Alvarado’s second riding crop violation within 180 days.
• HISA protocols, introduced in 2022, aim to standardize horse welfare and racing integrity, limiting jockeys to six crop strikes per race.
• Alvarado has 30 days to pay the fine and retains the option to appeal the decision through HISA’s Internal Adjudication Panel.
• Sovereignty’s victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3 remains valid, but the ruling highlights the increasing enforcement of HISA’s animal welfare policies.