Kentucky suspends jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. after domestic violence arrest, taking him off three Breeders' Cup mounts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 29) — Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. will not ride at this weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland after Kentucky suspended his license following his arrest on domestic violence charges.

Santana, 33, of Louisville, was arrested Monday, Oct. 26, not long after post positions were drawn for the Breeders' Cup, the Courier Journal reported. He is charged with two counts of first-degree strangulation and two counts of fourth-degree assault, according to Jefferson District Court records cited by the Lexington Herald-Leader. Police say the charges stem from two incidents involving his girlfriend at their home that day.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday. Bond was set at $25,000 cash, and he was ordered to have no contact with the woman. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 4.

The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation said his license is "suspended pending the disposition of his criminal charges" and that he will be removed from all mounts in Kentucky until further notice, BloodHorse reported. The commission's stewards upheld that ruling Wednesday. State law bars a license holder charged with a felony from taking part in the industry, the Courier Journal reported, which likely keeps Santana off Kentucky tracks for the rest of the year. He can appeal.

Santana had been named to ride Hymn in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Foie Gras in the Filly and Mare Sprint and Doncho in the Turf Sprint, according to BloodHorse. Hymn's trainer, Ron Moquett, had already said Santana would not ride for his barn before the suspension was announced, and named Rafael Bejarano as Hymn's new rider.

The Breeders' Cup said in a statement that it respects the commission's decision and "condemns violence in all forms," while recognizing the importance of due process.

Santana, who was born in Panama, is a two-time Breeders' Cup winner, Spectrum News 1 reported. The championships run Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, in Lexington.