Animal advocates have been actively calling on the Bucks County district attorney to take a closer look at a jockey's actions following a race victory at Parx Casino in Bensalem. This incident involving Paco Lopez and his 2-year-old horse, National Law, has sparked significant concern and calls for investigation.

Uncovering the Truth Behind the Horse Whipping Incident

Incident Details

On December 3 at Parx in Bensalem, jockey Paco Lopez whipped his horse, National Law, on the neck after crossing the finish line. The young horse had veered off course in the stretch but still managed to win by 1 ¼ lengths, as it was only in its third-ever race. This act raised immediate questions about Lopez's actions and the well-being of the horse.Since 2019, Lopez has been suspended at least five times for various infractions. According to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's ruling portal, he has 10 violations for excessive whip use, with riders only allowed to strike a horse six times during a race. In the past 24 months alone, he had two violations at Parx since late August.

Aftermath and Reactions

On December 5, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority suspended Lopez indefinitely due to this incident. Lopez promptly issued a public apology. PETA, an animal rights organization, called on the Bucks County district attorney, Jennifer Schorn, to investigate Lopez for potentially violating animal cruelty laws. Schorn's office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.PETA's letter to Schorn stated that "a full 20 seconds after crossing the finish line, Lopez harshly struck the colt." They emphasized that such behavior is prohibited by Pennsylvania's cruelty to animals statute. PETA also called on the Bucks SPCA to investigate. Cindy Kelly, the Bucks SPCA communications officer, said on December 10 that the situation had been reported to them and their chief humane officer was conducting an investigation. "It's very concerning to us, so we would certainly take action if necessary."In the past, the Bucks SPCA has investigated similar cases at the Parx track. The heightened awareness regarding equine safety began in early 2019 when a spike in fatalities at Santa Anita put the sport in the national spotlight. This eventually led to federal legislation creating the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which now oversees drug testing and safety.National Law's trainer, Jorge Duarte Jr., took to social media to defend the rider after the incident, stating on Twitter that "jockeys are the toughest athletes. We have mental health involved already. Anyone who saw the whole stretch run would say Paco was outstanding keeping the horse safe. We need to focus on things that matter." However, this post was later deleted.National Law is owned by Colts Neck Stables, which Duarte trains for. A statement from Colts Neck (N.J.) Stables read in part, "We do not agree with the action he took, nor Jorge Duarte's opinions on how the situation was handled. You can't get much lower than whipping a green horse who won the race."PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said, "We urge the District Attorney to determine that Lopez's next stop should be in a court of law." Parx Casino and Racing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Reporting from Stephen Edelson of the Asbury Park Press contributed to this report. Jess Rohan can be reached at jrohan@gannett.com.