Jockey Confronts Antley

Chris Antley, who rode Charismatic to victory in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, is riding with a discolored left eye at Hollywood Park these days, the result of what he said was a head-butting incident involving another jockey Monday night.

Antley, who will try to sweep the Triple Crown when Charismatic runs in the Belmont Stakes on June 5, said Matt Garcia butted him at a party attended by other jockeys and trainers in Monrovia.

“I thought [Garcia] was going to shake my hand, and instead he [butted] me,” Antley said.

Garcia said that Antley had attended the party with Garcia’s former girlfriend.

Garcia said, “She jumped ship with me, and [Antley] said something about her in front of me and her, and it was BS. I just wasn’t going to stand for it.”

Antley said that there was no argument preceding the incident and that he did not retaliate. He was able to resume work the next day, riding several horses during morning workouts.

“The trainers who were there and saw it, they told me I handled the whole thing with a lot of class,” Antley said.

Tom Ward, one of the three stewards at Hollywood Park, said that in most cases the stewards will not involve themselves in off-the-track incidents, and they do not plan to pursue the matter.

Asked if the incident was behind him, Garcia said, “As long as [Antley] doesn’t talk to me outside the races. But if he does, there could be a problem. I’m still going to stand up for what I believe in.”