Jockey Mychel Sanchez, who was suspended for 60 days by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission for betting on horses other than those he rode, is not a cheater or a race fixer, attorneys for he told TDN Friday. Instead, attorney Alan Pincus said, Sanchez is facing a case of severe depression and sees gambling as an outlet. Pincus said that in any event, Sanchez tried his best to win the races in question, whether he bet on his horse or not.
“Obviously he did his best,” Pincus said. “He didn’t fix the races. He won several races where he bet on his horses. The horse was paid $37 in one race, $27 in another. He’s just doing something crazy that only a psychiatrist can explain.”
With Sanchez’s main track, Parx, on Black Friday, the jockey was listed on two pylons at Laurel. After the Maryland Racing Commission learned of his Pennsylvania suspension, Sanchez was removed from his mount. Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST RACING released a statement later in the day in which they said Sanchez had been banned indefinitely.
“After learning of the serious allegations of illegal betting on the part of track and field athlete Mychel Sanchez, with immediate effect 1 / ST RACING will issue an indefinite ban on him from training. train or race at any 1 / ST RACING venue,” reads a statement issued by 1 / ST RACING. “Any decision regarding Sanchez’s rehabilitation will be made at a later date. 1 / ST RACING is based on the principles of integrity and accountability, and we believe there is no place in our sport for this type of unethical and illegal activity. ”
Tom Chuckas, the director of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission’s thoroughbred division, was not present to the media. A call to his office went to voicemail and no one returned the call from TDN Looking for comments. There is nothing related to Sanchez’s suspension on the page that lists the rulings on the Pennsylvania Racing Commission’s website. A final ruling is likely to be issued after the committee’s regular meeting next week.
If Chuckas could be available to him, he would likely be asked to explain what appeared to be a serious offense that resulted in a suspension of just 60 days.
“Mychal is a straight shooter and he has worked hard and with skill and talent has risen to a very strong position,” said Pincus. “He is the sole support for his family both here and in Venezuela and life is, on the surface, great for him. But, he is feeling depressed. And he didn’t do anything to deal with it. He’s just turning inside. He turned to gambling on races in a very short period of time. I’m not a psychiatrist, but he did this to numb the pain.”
Pincus said that Sanchez opened a TVG account in his own name and started betting on December 23 and last placed a bet on January 3. He played six against 28 during that period. During that time, he also rode in the Aqueduct and in Laurel. Pincus said he wasn’t sure if Sanchez would bet with his mounts in New York and Maryland or just in Parx. If he bets against himself in New York or in Maryland, he could face additional penalties from those states.
“We will look into this matter,” said J. Michael Hopkins, executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission. “But he’s on suspension in Pennsylvania right now, so there’s no need to rush because he doesn’t ride here often. But we will definitely look into it.”
TVG staff noticed that horse racing players had bet on their own horses and informed the appropriate racing commission.
Through his attorney, acknowledging that he bet on his own horse, Sanchez will not fight the suspension.
“He was suspended for 60 days from the start [Friday] through March 21,” Pincus said. “Obviously it was under warranty. We will not complain about this. “
Pincus said that Sanchez signed up for a problem gambling program and also sought psychiatric help.
“He was just doing something because of a mental problem,” Pincus said. “Everybody has to take responsibility for their own actions, but he must be seen with sympathy.”
Sanchez started riding in the US in 2013 and is the top rider at Parx in 2020. According to Equibase, he has won 940 races from 6,097 rides.
