Jockey Eliseo Ruiz is under investigation after a suspicious end to a race on March 31. An investigation is underway at Parx Racing after jockey Eliseo Ruiz is under scrutiny for his actions — or apparent inaction — in the stretch run of the ninth race on March 31 in Bensalem, Pa.
Thomas Chuckas, the director of the Bureau of Thoroughbred Horse Racing for the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, confirmed the investigation to the Paulick Report.
Ruiz was aboard No. 5 Bailout Billy for trainer J. Guadalupe Guerrero, and looked like he had a decisive win in the bag before his horse strayed off the rail and eased up, allowing No. 2 Cocktail Humor to pass him right before the finish line.
Bailout Billy, who went off as the third choice with 5/1 odds, finished second, a half-length behind Cocktail Humor, the second-favorite.
It didn’t take long for aggrieved railbirds to take to social media and cry foul play, pointing to the fact that Ruiz never seemed to ask Bailout Billy for more, even though he looked behind him and saw Cocktail Humor gaining ground as his filly was drifting.
Other horseplayers pointed out that Bailout Billy had a similar ride in her most recent start, also at Parx, back on Dec. 8. The Pennsylvania-bred filly faded all the way back to sixth in that contest. Before that start, Bailout Billy had rhymed off four straight wins, three of which came with Ruiz aboard.
Crucially, all four of those victories appeared to come under a hand ride, a technique in which the jockey uses his or her hands, arms, and body weight — and not the whip — to push a horse to its maximum speed.
Eliseo Ruiz [left] helps Bryan Torres with his helmet in preparation for their race at the Vocational Equestrian Agustín Mercado Reverón School Getty Images As the controversy swelled, Ruiz’s agent, Troy Matty, defended his client’s actions with a statement on social media.
“Eliseo is a hardworking, respectful young rider who takes pride in doing things the right way. He is well-regarded by trainers and horsemen for his professionalism, honesty, and integrity.
“It’s important to understand that Bailout Billy is not a horse that can be whipped or aggressively handled. Eliseo was under specific instructions, as usual, from the trainer. He followed those instructions and rode the horse responsibly, giving him the best chance possible within those limits.
“He handled the situation exactly as he was instructed, and I fully stand behind him.”
Ruiz, a native of Puerto Rico, has made 2,159 starts in his career with 303 wins and $11,287,361 in earnings. He began riding in North America in 2023.
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
