Top Quarter Horse Jockey Faces Hearing : ‘Electrical Devices’ Found on Didericksen at Hollywood Park

Kip Didericksen, the leading quarter horse jockey in the country last year, was found in possession of two electrical prodding devices just minutes before a race at Hollywood Park last Sunday and is scheduled for a hearing before track stewards next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, through mutual agreement, Didericksen will not be riding, according to Ingrid Ferman, a Hollywood Park steward.

The 20-year-old Didericksen was on his way from the jockeys’ room to the paddock before last Sunday’s ninth race when a search by a state investigator produced two of the devices, commonly known as batteries.

Didericksen was taken off the horse, a 4-year-old named Beda Cheng trained by Bob Baffert. Henry Garcia then rode Beda Cheng to victory. The horse, listed at 7-2 in the Daily Racing Form’s morning line for the $7,700 allowance race, paid $8.80 for a $2 win ticket.

In late June, Beda Cheng had finished sixth in the Vessels Maturity, one of the sport’s major races, at Los Alamitos.

Ferman would not say why Didericksen was searched before the race last Sunday.

Didericksen declined to comment about the batteries when reached by telephone Thursday but said he would appear at the hearing.

Said Ed Stetson, chief investigator for the California Horse Racing Board: “I don’t want to say anything about this particular case, but having a battery is a serious offense. A suspension of a year or more would not be out of line if a jockey is guilty.”

Didericksen is the son of a retired trainer who is general manager of Les Bois Park in Boise, Ida. Didericksen began riding at 16 in Montana and has been a success since arriving in California in late 1984, having won titles at Los Alamitos and Bay Meadows.

Last year, Didericksen won 309 races, 107 more than runner-up James Lackey in the national standings. Didericksen’s mounts earned $1.7 million as he finished second, about $30,000 behind Danny Cardoza, on the money list.

Didericksen won the riding title at the recently completed Los Alamitos meeting with 101 wins.

Nationally, Didericksen ranks third this year in the money standings, with purses of $617,000 through July 20. Baffert, the third-leading trainer in the country last year with purses of almost $700,000, is in fifth place this year.

Another jockey with problems is Antonio Castanon, who was Del Mar’s leading rider with six wins in the first five days of the season.

On Monday, however, Castanon was arrested by immigration officials for working illegally in the United States and has been prevented from riding at Del Mar three days this week.

Castanon entered the country from Mexico as a groom/exercise rider. When he became a jockey in 1985, he failed to notify immigration authorities of the change in his occupation.

On Thursday, Tony Pacheco, an investigator for the California Horse Racing Board, said the Board’s position was to permit Castanon to resume riding.

“As far as the board is concerned, Castanon is licensed to ride,” Pacheco said. “The board does not feel that it is in a position to enforce the immigration rules.”

Pacheco said he had heard that Castanon would have a hearing with immigration authorities in two months. Mike Connell, an immigration official who is handling the Castanon case, could not be reached for comment.