Paco Lopez, one of the top jockeys in the U.S., is under fire again. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) handed him a six-month suspension, effective September 23, 2025, following repeated violations of riding crop rules. The incident that sparked the latest action occurred at the Grade 1 Forego Stakes in Saratoga on August 23, when Lopez did something strictly forbidden under HISA rules. While this was not his first violation, the repeated breaches prompted the authority to take decisive action. Since reinstating him in January 2025, Lopez broke the rules ten times, eight of which involved the banned wrist technique. HISA has declared that enough is enough.

The suspension has stirred a heated debate in the racing world. The Jockeys’ Guild jumped in with a post on X, fea

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