Flavien Prat Avoids Action After Preakness Stakes Incident

Flavien Prat, the jockey, will face no action from Maryland stewards after a review of the incident at the top of the stretch in the 150th Preakness Stakes.

What happened?

The incident occurred on May 18, when Prat's horse, Goal Oriented, finished fourth, and Umberto Rispoli's horse, Journalism, won the race.

The stewards reviewed the films and spoke with the riders involved before making their decision.

Why it matters for Flavien Prat

The decision is significant for Prat, as it clears him of any wrongdoing in the incident.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen had publicly accused the stewards of allowing jockeys to "run into each other" with impunity.

What comes next?

The stewards' decision brings an end to the controversy surrounding the incident.

Asmussen's horse, Clever Again, was involved in the incident and finished last.

Rispoli responded to the criticism, saying the gap was there and he took it to avoid putting himself at risk.

The three presiding stewards, Adam Campola, Ross Pearce, and Russel Derderian, made the unanimous decision not to take action against Prat or Rispoli.

The incident sparked significant public debate, with some blaming Rispoli for trying to go through a hole that wasn't there, and others blaming Prat for turning in and trying to pin Rispoli against the rail.

Asmussen had also criticized the stewards, saying they never address the real issues, and instead focus on minor infractions.

The decision was made after a brief inquiry into the stretch run of the race, and no changes were made to the original result.

Prat and Rispoli were both interviewed by the stewards before the decision was made.

The 150th Preakness Stakes took place on May 18 at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course.

The stewards' decision was released on Friday afternoon, May 24, after a review of the incident.