As a result of failing a breathalyzer test March 31 before the first race at Santa Anita, Kent Desormeaux will now be subjected to a breathalyzer test before every race day and every time he rides a horse in a morning exercise or work, according to a stewards' ruling posted Friday on the California Horse Racing Board's website.
A complaint posted on the site April 8 read, “On 3/31/2023, Jockey Kent Desormeaux failed an alcohol breathalyzer test administered by CHRB Investigators at Santa Anita Park prior to riding in the 1st race.” Desormeaux did not ride that day, but was back riding the following day, April 1.
A hearing date was set for May 18.
Friday, the stewards ruled: “Jockey KENT DESORMEAUX, having entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) for violation of CHRB rules 1874 (Disorderly Conduct) and 1680 (Jockeys and Drivers to Report) on March 31, 2023, at Santa Anita Park, is placed on probation for the remainder of his license period, subject to the following terms and conditions of probation: He is placed on a testing agreement with the following conditions: (a) He will be tested by a CHRB investigator before entering the racetrack to exercise a horse or participate in a race. (b) On scheduled race days, he will report to the CHRB investigative office no later than 1.5 hours before the scheduled post time. (c) In the event CHRB investigators obtain a PAS reading detecting the presence of alcohol (Anything greater than 0.00) his license will be summarily suspended until a noticed hearing before a Board of Stewards is held and a ruling is issued. (d) Upon renewal of his Jockey license, a testing agreement will be part of his next license period.”
Desormeaux has had a long history of alcohol-related issues on and off the track. He missed most of 2022 after getting into an altercation in a parking lot at Del Mar when intoxicated. He was arrested in January and charged with domestic battery and abuse. He spent time in a rehab facility in 2016, and was back in an in-patient program in 2020.
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