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Horseback Racing While Drunk? Not At The Preakness

By Korva Coleman
Published May 19, 2012 at 12:31 PM MDT
Kent Desormeau rides Sacristy to win the Old Hat Stakeshorse race in Hallandale Beach, Fla. on Jan. 1, 2012, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Gulfstream Park
/
AP
Kent Desormeau rides Sacristy to win the Old Hat Stakeshorse race in Hallandale Beach, Fla. on Jan. 1, 2012, in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

There's a jockey switch for tonight's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore: the 2004 Kent Desormeaux won't ride Tiger Walk in the race. He failed a breathalyzer test administered yesterday at Belmont Park, in New York.

Although it sounds surprising, jockeys are now required to take in New York if they plan to ride, according to the Daily Racing Form. Desormeaux's level was .05 percent or higher and that's considered impaired. He was also removed from three races yesterday.

Although the Preakness is staged in Maryland, not New York, the horse's owner, quickly parted ways with the jockey. Tom Mullikin, the general manager of Sagamore Racing, "...We can't have any distractions this weekend. We spoke w/ Kent and wished him well." Jockey Ramon Dominguez will ride Tiger Walk instead tonight.

Desormeaux's experienced this before: in 2010, , according to ESPN. His replacement guided his mount to win the day's biggest prize.

The Preakness starts at 6:18 PM eastern time. Be prompt: the New York Daily °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ notes the race is one and 3/16's of a mile, so . Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another will be looking to catch , notes AP.

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Korva Coleman
Korva Coleman is a newscaster for NPR.
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