Jockeys | Horse Racing Free Tips

Comebacking Jonathan Gonzales Returns To Gulfstream Winner’s Circle

Jonathan Gonzales, a prominent member of the South Florida jockey colony before being derailed by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to the Gulfstream Park winner's circle Sunday after an absence of a year and a half at the Hallandale Beach oval.

“I've worked hard for this, but I need to keep working hard,” Gonzales said after guiding Fiery Princess ($12.80) to a Race 3 victory on the fourth mount of his comeback. “I feel very happy.”

Due to COVID-19 protocols put in place at Gulfstream, jockeys did not have access to the backstretch to gallop or breeze horses. Gonzales opted to place his career as a jockey on hold to work full time as an exercise rider while working his way back into top physical condition.

“I had an accident in 2019. I broke my elbow. When I came back business was slow and then there was the pandemic,” he said. “I was galloping until now.”

Gonzales, who captured the inaugural summer meet title at Gulfstream in 2013 as an apprentice, scored his 510th career victory Sunday aboard Fiery Princess, who graduated with an off-the-place victory in a six-furlong maiden claiming race for fillies and mares. He finished with a 20-percent winning percentage in two of his first five years of riding.

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Pyfer Getting Her Mounts Out Of The Gate And Into Winner’s Circle

Jessica Pyfer set what is believed to be a record in California last Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia by becoming the first female apprentice rider to win four races in one day.

The 23-year-old Denver native won the second race on Rakasasah, the third on Joe Don Looney, the seventh aboard Lofty and the ninth on Sweet Devil.

The step-daughter of leading trainer Phil D'Amato, Pyfer has 31 victories, good for sixth in Santa Anita's jockey standings.

“We're excited, but we never thought it could be a record for apprentices,” said her agent, Brandon O'Bryan.

“We were happy with winning four,” added O'Bryan, a third-generation agent, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, George, and his father, Craig, who represents Juan Hernandez.

“It always helps to have the support of the leading trainer in your corner,” Brandon said, “but Jessica is well-liked and very talented. I think her best trait is getting horses out of the gate.”

And getting them to the wire first, too.

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Australian Jockeys To Undergo Extended Stand-Down Period After Concussion Diagnosis

Jockeys in Victoria, Australia will now be required to stand down for 12 days if diagnosed with a concussion, reports justhorseracing.com.au. The stand down period was increased from the previous seven days on the advice of Racing Victoria doctor Gary Zimmerman.

The 12-day period puts Racing Victoria on par with the Australian Football League.

“We have seen a lot of athletes in the AFL, they want to avoid being diagnosed with concussion because they know there will be an automatic stand-down and they can't play a game the following week,” said Matthew Hyland, chief executive of the Victorian Jockeys' Association. “But you have to hold the athlete in one hand and then you have to hold the medical advice in the other and you have to try and bring it together and arrive at a satisfactory outcome.

“Sometimes you have to take that out of the athlete's hands.”

Australian Rider McIver’s One-Year Ban Overturned Upon Review

Queensland jockey Chris McIver, who earlier this year was handed a one-year ban for mistreatment of horses, has had that ban overturned on appeal. McIver had been found guilty of misconduct by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) in February during an incident in the starting gate at Rockhampton, and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the time of the incident, McIver had returned from a seven-month suspension for mistreatment of a horse in 2020.

McIver filed an appeal and upon a review in March, McIver's attorney Peter Boyce said the QRIC determined the evidence did not support the original finding.

“The reviewer, in carefully considering the totality of the evidence, including the applicant's submissions, the clarity of the footage of the alleged incident and the aforementioned factors, is not satisfied to the requisite standard that the applicant's actions constitute misconduct,” read a statement from QRIC internal adjudicator Kane Ashby.

As a result, McIver is not considered guilty of any charge related to the incident and resumed riding.

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