Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 

Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux will not ride in the Preakness Stakes after failing a breathalyser test in New York.

A dual Preakness winner, Desormeaux was removed as the rider of 15-1 chance Tiger Walk by owner Kevin Plank’s Sagamore Farm and trainer Ignacio Correas, and replaced by Ramon Dominguez.

The 42-year-old Desormeaux failed the test at Belmont Park and was taken off all three of his scheduled mounts. He has not been suspended, but the New York State Racing and Wagering Board is conducting an investigation.

According to a rule in New York that went into effect on April 27, every jockey named to ride is required to undergo a test for alcohol consumption.

“This was a team decision and sometimes things happen for a reason,” Sagamore Farm general manager Tom Mullikin wrote on the farm’s Twitter account.

“We’re trying to run a professional operation & can’t have any distractions this weekend. We spoke w/ Kent and wished him well.”

Dominguez is a two-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s leading jockey and is looking for his first Preakness win. He’s 0 for 9 but has finished second two times, with First Dude in 2010 and Scrappy T in 2005.

“Ramon Dominguez is a great rider and we plan to have a lot of fun tomorrow,” Mullikin added.

Desormeaux had one other mount on Saturday (Sunday AEST), in a maiden race following the Preakness.

He is eligible to ride, but it’s not immediately clear whether the jockey will come to Baltimore.

Jockeys at Pimlico are not required to take a breathalyser test but the track stewards may order one if they have “reasonable cause.”

According to the Racing Form, Desormeaux failed a breathalyser test at Woodbine in July 2010 and was removed from his mount, Hold Me Back, in the Dominion Day Handicap. Hold Me Back won that race with Tyler Pizarro aboard.

Desormeaux is a three-time Eclipse Award winner with more than 5400 wins, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories aboard Real Quiet in 1998 and Big Brown in 2008.

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au