Jockey Martin Chuan is currently serving a 15-day suspension, which will conclude on October 11, imposed by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission stewards, reports The Racing Biz. In addition to the suspension, he has been fined $1,000.
The suspension began on September 27 due to Chuan’s failure to make his best effort while riding Pipers Song, a 3-year-old making its debut in a maiden claiming race on September 10. Racing charts showed that Pipers Song lagged behind and was outpaced, finishing last in 11th place by nearly 32 lengths. The horse’s owner, Kelsie Shotzberger, lodged a complaint regarding Chuan’s ride.
Chuan’s agent, John Weilbacher, told The Racing Biz that although Chuan encouraged the horse to try harder, Pipers Song was unresponsive, appearing uninterested and unwilling to compete. Consequently, Chuan focused on safely completing the race.
Pipers Song ran again on September 18 at Laurel Park with jockey Gavin Ashton, but once again finished last, trailing the leaders by almost 40 lengths.
Weilbacher also revealed that an appeal against Chuan’s suspension was attempted but was rejected because the paperwork was not notarized, a requirement under Delaware’s regulations.
Martin Chuan, 31, is an accomplished jockey with 289 wins and multiple graded stakes placements. He currently stands third in the Delaware Park jockey rankings with 37 wins this season and was the third-leading rider at last year’s meet, which concludes on October 17.
Read more at theracingbiz.com.
This report was initially published by Paulick Report on October 6, 2026, in their News section. You can add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source here.
Fan Take: This suspension highlights the strict expectations for jockey effort and horse welfare in racing, reminding fans that accountability is key to maintaining integrity in the sport. How jockeys manage their mounts directly impacts racing outcomes and the sport’s reputation, making rulings like this essential for fair competition.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
