Louisville, Kentucky Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. Arrested in Louisville and Suspended From Breeders' Cup Mounts

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky late on Monday night on domestic violence charges, and on Tuesday the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation suspended his license and removed him from his mounts at the Breeders' Cup World Championships this weekend at Keeneland.

Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson Aaron Ellis told reporters that 8th Division officers arrested Santana on Monday evening at about 11:30 p.m. Ellis said Santana faces first degree strangulation and fourth degree assault, domestic violence with minor injury. Court records cited by BloodHorse show two counts of strangulation in the first degree, a Class C felony that can carry five years or more in prison on conviction, and two counts of assault in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor that can carry up to 12 months in jail. The statutes also provide for fines.

What police say happened

According to news reports of the arrest citation, Santana's girlfriend told police that he held her by the neck two different times on Monday during arguments about his drinking. Officers responded on October 26 to a domestic violence call in the Middletown area, where a woman said she had left her home after fleeing from her boyfriend. She told officers that Santana was drinking on their front porch at about 11:30 a.m. and became angry when she confronted him about his drinking, and that he grabbed her by the throat with both hands and pushed her against kitchen cabinets.

The woman told officers she was able to leave the home after that argument. When she returned that evening with food for her children, police said the two argued again and Santana allegedly grabbed her by the throat and pushed her into the cabinets a second time. She reported pain and officers said she had photos showing redness on her throat from the first incident.

Court, license and Breeders' Cup fallout

Santana was arraigned on Tuesday in Jefferson County District Court, pleaded not guilty, and was released on a $25,000 cash bond, according to court records. He was ordered to have no contact with his girlfriend and no other violations of the law. A preliminary hearing on whether he should be bound over to a grand jury is set for November 4.

"The jockey license issued to Ricardo Santana Jr. will be suspended pending the disposition of his criminal charges," Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation spokesperson Travers Manley said. "During his suspension, Mr. Santana will be denied privileges of all facilities under the jurisdiction of Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming. He will be removed from all mounts in Kentucky until further notice." Manley said stewards will issue a formal ruling on or before Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Santana, 33, had been scheduled to ride Foie Gras in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Doncho in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and Hymn in the Breeders' Cup Sprint on October 30 and 31 at Keeneland. Trainer Mike Maker said Santana will not ride Foie Gras. Trainer Ron Moquett said Santana will not ride Hymn.

The Breeders' Cup said it respects the decision to suspend Santana's license pending the disposition of his charges, that replacement riders will be identified by the connections of his horses under the usual protocol, and that it condemns violence in all forms while recognizing the importance of due process. Santana is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.