Shortcut Jockey Banned for 10 Yrs.

A jockey accused of hiding in the fog and slipping ahead of the pack by a shortcut to win a race by 24 lengths has been banned for 10 years from racing in Louisiana.

“It ain’t right. I know I ain’t did it,” jockey Sylvester Carmouche said after the Louisiana State Racing Commission voted 7-1 to suspend him Wednesday.

His lawyer, Kent Schaffer, said he will appeal to a state judge and ask for a stay that would allow Carmouche to keep racing pending a decision.

The jockey was accused of slipping Landing Officer, a 23-1 longshot, out of the race near the start Jan. 11, waiting until the eight other horses rounded the track and slipping back in ahead of the pack near the final turn.

The horse, which had a record of only five wins in 53 races, won by 24 lengths and finished 1.2 seconds off the track record in the mile-long race in thick evening fog at Delta Downs, a Vinton, La., track.