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U.S. Showjumper Receives 10-Year Suspension For Shocking Show Horses

Jumper Andy Kocher, who has represented the United States in multiple international competitions, has received a 10-year suspension for using electric spurs on his horses. The ban was initiated by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the international governing body of horse sport.

An investigation was launched after the FEI was informed that Kocher had used an electric shock device on horses in multiple competitions. The FEI considers shocking a horse in any manner horse abuse.

The FEI Tribunal has suspended U.S. Jumping athlete Andrew Kocher for 10 years and disqualified him from eight events between June 2018 and November 2019 for using electric spurs on horses. The athlete has also been fined approximately US$11,000 and ordered to pay costs of approximately US$8,255.

The FEI Legal Department notified the athlete on June 29, 2020, that an investigation had been opened following allegations about electric spur use reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). It was alleged that Mr. Kocher had used electric spurs on a number of FEI registered and national horses in international and national events, and during training.

Following the investigation, the FEI formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Kocher in October 2020. He was provisionally suspended on October 28, 2020 pending a hearing before the FEI Tribunal, and this period will be credited against the full suspension, meaning that the athlete is ineligible through to October 27, 2030.

During the suspension the athlete is barred from participating in or attending, in any capacity, including as a spectator, any competition or event that is authorized or organized by the FEI or any National Federation.

The sanctions also include disqualification of all results obtained at events for which the FEI Tribunal was provided with photographic evidence establishing the athlete's use of electric spurs. The eight events are: CSI4* Hickstead (GBR), 21-24 June 2018; CSI3* Lexington (USA), 14-18 May 2019; CSI2* Lexington (USA), 22-26 May 2019); CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 5-9 June 2019; CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 27-39 June 2019; CSI3* Traverse City (USA), 7-11 August 2019; CSI3*-W Columbus (USA), 2-6 October 2019; and CSI4*-W Toronto (CAN), 5-9 November 2019.

These sanctions form the operative part of the FEI Tribunal decision. The full reasoned decision will be published here in due course. Parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the full decision.

O’Neill Sending Lava Man (aka The Coach) To Assist Hot Rod Charlie In Kentucky

Doug O'Neill is nothing if not confident about Hot Rod Charlie's chances in Saturday's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky,

Of course, that's not headline-worthy information for the trainer who turns 53 on May 24. He already has two victories in the Run for the Roses on his growing resume, in 2012 with 15-1 outsider I'll Have Another and in 2016 with 2-1 favorite Nyquist.

It's also not breaking news that O'Neill generally and refreshingly sees the glass as half full, and such is the case with Hot Rod Charlie, who worked six furlongs in 1:13.68 at Santa Anita Saturday prior to the first race.

It was Hot Rod Charlie's final major breeze for the 147^th Kentucky Derby, and O'Neill was still well-satisfied after he had a chance to sleep on it.

“I'm very happy,” O'Neill said by phone at 7 o'clock Sunday morning as he waited to board a plane that would lead him to the Bluegrass State. “He went very nice, very steady. It was exactly what we had hoped for, and Flavvy was very happy with it as well. That means a lot.”

“Flavvy” would be Flavien Prat, Santa Anita's runaway leading rider with a 93-54 bulge over runner-up Juan Hernandez. Prat was aboard Hot Rod Charlie for Saturday's workout and rides him in the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

“They're all individual horses, but we're optimistic,” O'Neill said when asked if there was a difference approaching Saturday's classic from his previous two experiences.

“But this year the Derby does seem like it's really wide open. It will be interesting to see where we draw (post positions will be announced on Tuesday) and how he settles in. He ships today and we're eager to see him at Churchill Downs and how he does.

“But like Nyquist and I'll Have Another, we're excited about the opportunity. He's a good shipper (having finished second by less than a length at odds of 94-1 to undefeated Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last year, and winning the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds on March 20).”

Hot Rod Charlie, a Kentucky-bred son of Oxbow owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC and William Strauss, will have elite company on his journey.

“His mentor, Lava Man, is going with him,” O'Neill said, referring to the fabled gelding who celebrated his 20^th birthday this year and is affectionately called “The Coach” by stable staff.

“He's funny,” O'Neill said of Lava Man, now a stable pony after a storybook career as a racehorse, once claimed for $50,000, winner of 17 of 47 races, earner of $5,268,706 and elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.

“With his shirt on and a saddle on, he looks great. But like me, when you see him with his shirt off, you can tell he's 20.”

Not to worry. As Mark Twain once said, “Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been,” and for Team O'Neill, there have been plenty.

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Horses Fine, Jockeys Evaluated After Three-Way Spill At Belmont

A three-horse spill at Belmont resulted in no injuries to horses and evaluations for riders after a scary incident in the eighth race on Thursday. Sport Model, piloted by Junior Alvarado, clipped heels with rival Wish For Magic at the 5/16ths pole and tripped badly, dropping Alvarado. At the time, Sport Model was ahead of several horses. Undetectable, with Manuel Franco up, was bumped around the same time and then fell over Sport Model. Sailor's Treasure with rider Pablo Fragoso collided with the fallen horses and also fell.

All three horses got up quickly and were caught by outriders before being led off the track.

According to a NYRA spokesman, Franco was cleared by first aid at the track. Alvarado and Fragoso were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Tests and scans on Alvarado to check for traumatic brain injury were negative and he was sent home. Fragoso is also believed to have escaped serious injury.

Several horses who remained upright during the incident had to check sharply and were eased through the final part of the race, according to the Equibase chart — New York Banker, Lass, and Madame Rose, who finished seventh, eighth, and ninth.

Earlier in the card, rider Jose Ortiz was unseated in the fifth race by Fast Getaway. He was cleared to return to work by first aid and the horse returned to his connections by the finish line.

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Quality Road Colt Tops OBS Spring Sale’s Second Session

Hip No. 381, a son of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, went to Speedway Stables, LLC, for $1.5 million to top the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The bay colt, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat at Tuesday's Under Tack session, is a half brother to stakes placed Coffee Crush out of graded stakes winner Wasted Tears, by Najran.

Hip No. 463, a daughter of Arrogate consigned by Mayberry Farm, Agent, was sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1 million. The gray or roan filly, whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest at the distance at Wednesday's under tack session, is out of graded stakes winner Amen Hallelujah by Montbrook, a daughter of stakes winner Sara's Success.

Mike Talla, West Point Thoroughbreds, L.E.B., Agent, paid $750,000 for Hip No. 490, a son of Arrogate consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent. The gray or roan colt, who breezed an eighth in a co-fastest :10 flat on Wednesday, is a half brother to millionaire grade one stakes winner Heart to Heart out of Ask the Question, by Silver Deputy.

Hip No. 605, a son of Union Rags consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, went to Repole Stable, Inc. for $750,000. The dark bay or brown colt, who worked a quarter on Wednesday in :20 4/5, is a half brother to stakes placed Champagne Humor out of Champagne Ice, by Roman Ruler, a full sister to Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice.

Hip No. 594, a daughter of Curlin consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, was sold to Norman W. Casse for $600,000. The chestnut filly, who worked a co-fastest eighth in :10 flat on Wednesday, is a half sister to stakes winner Checkered Past out of Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy, a daughter of champion Catch the Ring.

Hip No. 512, a daughter of Maclean's Music consigned by Paul Sharp, Agent, was purchased for $575,000 by Red Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal. The chestnut filly, whose eighth in :10 flat was Wednesday's co-fastest, is out of Beautified, by Congrats, a daughter of graded stakes winner Makeup Artist.

Hip No. 365, a daughter of Into Mischief consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent, was sold to Mike Ryan, Agent, for $500,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 flat on Tuesday, is out of Versailles Song, by Unbridled's Song, a daughter of grade one stakes winner Versailles Treaty.

Donato Lanni, Agent for Frank Fletcher Racing, paid $490,000 for Hip No. 530, a son of Runhappy consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, a half brother to graded stakes placed Hardworkcleanlivin out of Bible Belt, by Pulpit, breezed an eighth in a co-fastest :10 flat on Wednesday.

Hip No. 394, a daughter of Upstart consigned by Tom McCrocklin, Agent, was purchased by Spendthrift Farm LLC / Myracehorse.com for $450,000. The dark bay or brown filly, who turned in an Under Tack quarter in :20 4/5 last Tuesday, is out of Who'sbeeninmybed, by The Daddy, a half sister to graded stakes winner Mr. Bowling.

For the day, 181 horses brought a total of $21,056,500 compared with 158 selling for a total of $15,990,000 at last year's second session. The average price was $116,334, up 15% compared to $101,203 in 2021 while the median price was $47,000, compared with $55,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 18.5 percent; it was 19 percent last year.

The Spring Sale continues Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Hip No's 609 – 912 will be offered for sale.

To view the full results from Wednesday's session, click here.

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