The Jockeys’ Guild today came out strongly against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) six-month suspension of jockey Paco Lopez, calling the decision “absolutely uncalled for and beyond ludicrous.”

The Guild’s statement, issued from its Lexington headquarters, criticized both the severity of the penalty and the broader framework of HISA’s riding crop rules.

While the Guild did not excuse Lopez’s December 2024 conduct at Parx, when he struck his mount National Law across the face following a chaotic victory, it stressed that the rider had already faced discipline for that incident. Lopez served a suspension, underwent anger management, donated to industry charities, and was reinstated in January 2025 under a conditional agreement with HISA.

According to the Guild, Lopez’s more recent infractions—raising his crop above helmet height, including during his Grade 1 win aboard Book’em Danno in the Forego—bear no resemblance to the earlier conduct and should not trigger such a harsh sanction.

“These violations have absolutely zero correlation to the type of conduct Paco demonstrated on National Law at Parx,” the release said.

The Guild also reiterated its long-standing opposition to HISA’s Rules 2280 and 2282, which regulate riding crop use and prescribe penalties. It argued that stewards, not rigid guidelines, should have discretion to assess penalties.

“The punishment must fit the crime,” the Guild wrote, warning that the current framework imposes “draconian” punishments for minor technical violations.

The statement also criticized HISA for allowing advocacy groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to influence disciplinary actions, calling such involvement “a very slippery downward slope.” PETA publicly claimed credit for filing the complaint that led to Lopez’s immediate suspension.

While acknowledging progress made with HISA on jockey health and safety, the Guild said the latest decision undermines trust and called for a more collaborative approach to rulemaking.

“Those who are creating the rules need to actually not only listen, but take credence, in the insight that is provided by those who are actually participating,” it said.

The Guild closed by pledging to stand with Lopez and continue fighting what it views as “unfair and unreasonable” rules.

“We will continue… to do what is in the best interest of racing, while protecting the human and equine athletes,” the Guild said.