Sportsbook & Gambling Information

Derby jockeys' unapproved ads under Ky. review
Racing authority sorting out riders

Jeremy Rose, foreground, on Afleet Alex in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, wore an ad on his pants that was not approved by Churchill Downs. (BY STEWART BOWMAN, THE COURIER-JOURNAL)

At least four jockeys in Saturday's Kentucky Derby wore advertising that was not approved by Churchill Downs, sparking a review by state racing regulators.

Jim Gallagher, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, confirmed yesterday that the agency is reviewing tapes of the race to determine which riders violated a state rule governing ads. Gallagher did not name the jockeys.

But Jeremy Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to a third-place finish, wore an ad for ParadisePoker.com, a gambling Web site, on his pants. Churchill spokesman John Asher said the ad hadn't been approved and that track rules ban riders from wearing ads for competing sponsors, including other gambling companies.

Asher said Churchill was opposed to Rose advertising ParadisePoker.com because it competes with Youbet.com, a Churchill online betting partner.

Asher said only two jockeys on the Derby Day card -- Gary Stevens in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and Jerry Bailey in the Derby -- were authorized to wear advertising.

Jockeys sued last year for the right to wear logos and ads in the Derby and other races at the Downs. U.S. District Judge John Heyburn suspended the state ban on ads and promotional logos on attire worn by the five jockeys who originally sued. Regulators immediately applied Heyburn's ruling to riders in all state races until the state's regulations were changed this year.

The authority, at the urging of state tracks and several horsemen's organizations, approved a new ad rule that calls for a horse's owner and track stewards to approve advertising requests at the time a horse is entered, or 72 hours before the Derby.

Gallagher said riders at Keeneland's spring meet last month were notified of the new state rule, which was also sent to jockeys at tracks in California and New York.

Gallagher didn't provide specifics on any potential penalty but said "there will be a resulting consequence."