The Texas Racing Commission has suspended jockey Roman Chapa five years and fined him $25,000 after stewards determined he carried an electrical shocking device while riding Quiet Acceleration to victory in a stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.
The suspension is a result of a Feb. 27 stewards' hearing at which Chapa, 43, was represented by attorneys Paul Vick and Angus McGinty. Chapa has until Thursday, March 5, to appeal and TRC executive director Chuck Trout has the discretion to increase the fine up to $100,000.
The stewards ruled that Chapa violated four rules or racing: possession of contraband, influence of race prohibited, unlawful influence on racing, and inhumane treatment of horse or Greyhound.
Chapa, 43, has not ridden since he was summarily suspended Jan. 19, two days after winning the Richard King Stakes aboard Quiet Acceleration. Quiet Acceleration was disqualified and declared unplaced, with runner-up Fly the Red Eye declared the winner of the Richard King .
Scrutiny of Chapa emerged after a photograph showing the apparent shock device in Chapa's hand was published on the Sam Houston website and the jockey demanded it be removed.
The latest suspension is the third for Chapa for attempting to alter the outcome of a horse's performance during a race. During his first year as a jockey, Chapa was suspended for nine months in Texas for possession of contraband intended to increase or decrease the speed of his horse after he told investigators he used a nail on his horse. In 2007 he was suspended five years in New Mexico for possession of an electrical device and was reinstated on a probationary basis in May 2011 prior to completion of the suspension.