By T. D. Thornton
Two Evangeline Downs jockeys who were already prohibited from riding by the Louisiana Racing Commission pending a criminal investigation into the alleged use of illegal shocking devices in two separate races July 4 have been arrested on charges of “unnatural stimulation of horses,” the Louisiana State Police announced Thursday.
But that wasn't the extent of the accusations against brothers Joseph Patin Jr., 51, and Billy Patin, 46. After investigators received complaints about a separate cheating incident that allegedly occurred June 19, the Patins were additionally charged with “willful pulling of the reins and cheating and swindling.” A third jockey, LeSean Conyers, 24, was also charged with that same offense.
The two cases on different race days “are not related,” trooper Brooks David of the Louisiana State Police told TDN. “It just so happened that it kind of fell into one lap.”
Brooks said he believed all three “bonded out” of custody after their arrests. A person who answered the phone at the St. Landry Parish District Attorney's office could not immediately provide details about court dates or the types of penalties the three riders are facing.
“Evidence in two separate races on July 4, 2015, revealed that the [Patins] possessed hand held shocking devices,” a state police press release detailing the arrests stated.
The same release detailed the events of June 19: “Through interviews and evidence obtained from track officials, troopers determined the jockeys willfully schemed to hold back a horse picked as a favorite to win while utilizing an agent to place unusual bets in an attempt to maximize winnings.”
Although the release does not specify the race number, the race in question at Evangeline June 19 is almost assuredly the seventh, because that is the only race in which all three jockeys rode together.
It was a seven-furlong sprint for NW3L filly and mare $7,500 claimers with a field of six. The race featured two 7-5 shots, and was won by the actual betting favorite, Raspberry Delight (Brahms).
Joe Patin was aboard Powder Road (Graeme Hall), who finished third at 7-5. Billy Patin rode Ben's Juliette (Half Ours), who ran fifth at 14-1. Conyers rode Georgia's Genie (Eugene's Third Son), who was last at 7-1.
A review of the race replay shows that all three horses ridden by the arrested jockeys started extremely slowly. Conyers's mount looks like she is being pulled up straight out of the gate. Joe Patin's filly appears practically bent in half with her head cocked to the infield while under stout restraint.
By the time the field hit the far turn, the pan camera had zoomed out so far that it couldn't keep the entire field in view, with the front three leaders at least 20 lengths ahead of the trio of trailers.
The Equibase chart comment for Joe Patin's mount reads, in part, “sluggish early, continued back while along the inside and firmly in hand.”
The comment on Billy Patin's mount is “remained always back.”
Conyers's trip was a doozy according to Equibase: “Took up at the start, angled in to brush the rail five furlongs out…lost whip, lost right iron soon thereafter, trailed home.”
The $1 exacta with the favorite over a 17-1 shot paid $28.70. The 50-cent trifecta paid $46.00. Neither mutuel seems out of whack. The pools for the race were on the small side compared to other races at Evangeline that night.
David said the investigation continues into the betting patterns and the person who allegedly placed the bets on the jockeys' behalf.
Investigators perhaps took into account the next-out results of two of the horses involved when they ran back for $5,000 tags in the same race June 27: Powder Road won by two lengths at 7-2. Georgia's Genie was second at 12-1. Both were ridden by different jockeys in their subsequent starts.
The Patins are no strangers to brushes with the law and various racing commission infractions.
After an improbable win by the maiden Valhol in the 1999 Arkansas Derby, a video showed Patin dropping an electrical item that was later recovered on the track at Oaklawn Park. He served a five-year suspension.
Joe Patin's riding career has been interrupted several times by lengthy suspensions and arrests related to narcotics abuse. In 2013, he was escorted from Evangeline in handcuffs after an altercation with jockey Diego Saenz (who, coincidentally, rode the winning horse in the June 19 race).
Conyers has ridden only sparingly in Louisiana this year, with two wins from 40 mounts.
Chairman Bob Wright of the Louisiana Racing Commission said in a press release that “any deviations from honest and truly competitive horseracing cannot be condoned and the commission remains vigilant in its efforts to assure the highest standards possible.”
TDN attempted to contact each of the jockeys involved, but could not get through to any of the riders or their agents prior to deadline for this story.
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