"Escaped girlfriend recaptured, then strangled": U.S. horse racing world in uproar over famous jockey's "two faces"... drunk driving record also surfaces, "end of his career"

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Famous jockey Ricardo Santana (33), who was set to compete in the Breeders' Cup, the largest event in U.S. horse racing, has been arrested on charges of assaulting his girlfriend, putting his career in serious jeopardy.

The British media outlet "The Sun" reported on the 28th (Korean time) that "Santana was arrested by police on domestic violence charges and was immediately removed from all riding schedules while also receiving a suspension of his jockey license."

According to the outlet, Santana is suspected of strangling and assaulting his girlfriend late at night on the 26th local time. The victim told police that during an argument over Santana's drinking problems, he grabbed her neck with both hands and shoved her hard into a kitchen cabinet, causing head injuries.

The woman had left the house but returned that same evening, only for Santana to again grab her neck and shove her into the cabinet, committing further acts of violence.

According to the police arrest report, the victim reported pain in the back of her head, pelvis, back, and palms, and submitted a photo showing redness on her skin from the first assault as evidence. Santana denied the crime and claimed innocence, but the court issued a restraining order against him regarding his girlfriend.

This incident, which shook up Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky, has pushed Santana's career to the brink. He has recorded over 2,000 wins in his career. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission suspended his jockey license until criminal charges are finalized. The Breeders' Cup also issued a statement saying, "We support the commission's decision, will deploy a replacement jockey, and condemn all forms of violence."

Ron Moquet, the trainer overseeing the training and jockey assignment for Hymn, the Gyeongju horse Santana was scheduled to ride, removed him from the entry list immediately after the incident. Trainer Moquet wrote on his social media (SNS), "I will not let Santana ride our horses. However, since responsibility and compassion are separate matters, we will help him receive the treatment and counseling he needs."

Meanwhile, Santana had previously served one week in a Kentucky state facility in 2024 for two drunk driving offenses. At the time, his agent admitted that "Santana may have an alcohol dependency problem."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original