Officials Ask if Perret Held Back in Trial

Craig Perret, who rode Peteski to victory in the Queen’s Plate thoroughbred race at Woodbine on Sunday, has been asked to appear next week before the Ontario Racing Commission to explain remarks he made following the victory.

The New York-based jockey, who also rode Peteski to a second-place finish June 27 in the Plate Trial Stakes, said after the Queen’s Plate that Peteski probably could have won the Trial, also.

“The Trial was a cat-and-mouse ride for me,” Perret said. “I wanted to see how I could handle him.

“I felt I could have won the Trial, but the purpose of that race was to get ready for this one (the Plate). He ran a good race in the Trial, but the Plate itself was the goal.”

On Monday, Ontario Racing Commission Chairman Frank Drea said Perret will be charged with failing to ride or persevere to win, as well as for conduct detrimental to racing.

“These are very serious matters,” Drea said. “Perret will appear before the Ontario commission next Tuesday, and whatever decision is made here will be upheld by racing commissions throughout the United States.”

Perret got the ride on Peteski when Don Seymour, who had been riding both Peteski and Cheery Knight this year, elected to ride the latter, which finished second in the Plate, six lengths behind Peteski.

Peteski was the favorite in the Plate Trial.