By Bill Finley
According to a report from television station WFMJ, jockey Christian Pilares spent a night in jail after allegedly assaulting another jockey Nov. 14 at Mahoning Valley Racecourse. The name of the rider Pilares, 39, allegedly assaulted was not released.
The Austintown (Ohio) Police Department was called to the racetrack at about 2:30 p.m. to investigate a report that two jockeys were fighting. According to WFMJ, when officers arrived, they saw a jockey on a gurney, being loaded into an ambulance. The jockey was wearing a neck brace and had a cut over his eye, according to a police report.
Police said that security video showed Pilares coming up behind the alleged victim, then punching him and tackling him near the track's stables. Fellow jockeys told police as they pulled the suspect off the victim, the suspect kicked the victim in the head.
The victim, who was able to talk, told police he would pursue charges before he was taken to Mercy Hospital.
Pilares was arrested and charged with assault. He is being held on $22,500 bond and he is not to have contact with the victim. He is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 11.
Pilares has been riding in the U.S. since 2005 and has 1,732 winners from 11,513 mounts. He is just 3-for-29 this year and has not ridden since the day of the incident.
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