Accusations made toward jockey after ‘perplexing’ fourth race on Monday

The result of a race on the card at the Fort Erie Race Track on Monday is being questioned.

In the fourth contest of the day, veteran jockey Kirk Johnson was riding atop Princess O Denmark and had a lead of about 70 yards while approaching the final straightaway.

Johnson and the horse then appeared to slow down and were passed by opponents before the finish.

A number of allegations are being made online through social media and websites such as the Daily Caller and BroBible, accusing the jockey of throwing the race.

James Culic, spokesperson for the race track, said the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) gave “notice of review” Monday after the races.

“We are not involved in the process, it’s entirely conducted independently by the AGCO,” he explained, adding that Johnson will meet with AGCO stewards, and that the track will be notified of the decision once it’s rendered.

According to Equibase, Johnson has raced in 7,782 events throughout his career, which dates back to 2005.

He won 993 times in his two-decade career, racing mostly at Fort Erie and Woodbine. At the conclusion of Race 4, the TV commentator called the result “perplexing.”

In a report by racing stewards from the AGCO, it says the notice of review has been prompted by AGCO to Johnson “who was passed very late for the win.”

Daryl Ezra, a former announcer and trainer with 30 years of experience, spoke with Fort Erie Radio and came to Johnson’s defence, saying there are a number of factors that could have played a role, ones that may not be realized by casual horse racing fans and social media users.

There was “no nefarious activity,” said Ezra, saying that air quality and high temperatures may have impeded the horse’s ability to finish strong.

“There are a lot of reasons horses just stop,” he said.

He also said Princess O Denmark is a horse notorious for not responding to being whipped, meaning that if the jockey would have struck her it wouldn’t have made a difference.

“Kirk was trying to win and trying to keep the horse together,” said Ezra.

He also believes Johnson could be seen looking back at the field behind him to see if he “had enough” to still finish in first at the speed they were moving.

Ezra also said announcer Doug McPherson may have used the “wrong term” in the heat of the moment by calling the result perplexing.

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