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CNN Live Saturday
Interview With K.J. Matthews
Aired May 10, 2003 - 14:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Questions are just beginning to surface involving last week's Kentucky Derby win. Apparently now, a team of investigators are looking into the finish of that race, because of some newspaper photographs that seem to be revealing that there is an object in the hand of the jockey who was riding the winning horse, Funny Cide. The jockey, Jose Santos, and in these photographs, apparently there's a peculiar thing in his right hand, along with holding the crop. And on the telephone with us now is K.J. Matthews of WDRB. She was at a press conference that was conducted right there in Louisville, Kentucky, as it -- in connection with this investigation.
And K., why don't you tell us, what came about in this press conference?
K.J. MATTHEWS, WDRB CORRESPONDENT: Very little. Earlier this morning, the three stewards in charge of the Kentucky Derby and the lawyer for the Kentucky Racing Commission actually met behind closed doors. That was a little bit earlier this morning. And then a little bit later in the afternoon, about 1:00 p.m., the three stewards, that is, that oversee racing at Churchill Downs, came out and just made a very brief statement, stating that basically they have launched an investigation into question surrounding that published photo, of course, that was in "The Miami Herald," and that they're still waiting to talk to jockey Jose Santos, as well as the owner.
Now, you may recall that Santos has already acknowledged that he had an object in his hand during the race. And he described it, that is, as a Q-ring. That's what people use, or jockeys use to call to the outriders. No one is for sure if that is exactly what he had in his hand or why he would have any instrument in his hand. So right now, they're really just at the preliminary stage where they are trying to gather all the facts and they are being very, very careful not to accuse him or anyone of anything until more facts are gathered. But, of course, so much circumstances just swirling out here.
WHITFIELD: Well, K., then this begs the question. What is permissible for a jockey to be holding? Obviously, we see a lot of the jockeys are holding crops. What would be permissible by the standards of the stewards?
MATTHEWS: Well, you know, that is so interesting because the Kentucky Racing Commission, their posted rules, at least, do not prohibit a jockey from carrying an object other than those specifically prohibited, in his hand. And they have not listed exactly what that would be, but I don't know, if you remember a couple of years ago, back in 1999, another similar circumstance like this happened, where there was a jockey, Billy Patton (ph), who was suspended from riding for five years, after the Arkansas racing officials ruled that he had used a hand-held battery-operated device to spur along to victory in the Arkansas Derby.
Of course, we're not saying that that is what happened here at the Kentucky Derby, but it is very similar circumstance, possibly.
WHITFIELD: Now, these three stewards really do ultimately have the final say, don't they? They are the ultimate body of enforcing the rules of the derby?
MATTHEWS: You're absolutely right. The stewards' duties are to enforce the rules. They are there to make sure that all the jockeys and the owners are adhering to the rules. And so if they find that there has been any wrongdoing, it is their job to take it to the next action.
WHITFIELD: So what would happen ultimately if this ends up being the case for this race is thrown out, the results are thrown out, what happens to the prize money? What happens to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of betting dollars that were doled out?
MATTHEWS: That actually is a million-dollar question that everyone was asking today, because, of course, as you already know, the money has already been distributed to Jose Santos and the winner of the Kentucky Derby. So they're not even willing to speculate if it was found that he was carrying some battery-operated device or something illegal, what would happen if this race was considered null and void. Right now, they're just saying they're gathering the facts, and the next step could be a formal charge or hearing. But even if there is a formal charge, they're not even willing to speculate as to what would happen.
WHITFIELD: All right, K.J. Matthews of our affiliate WDRB on the telephone with us there from Louisville. Thanks very much for those details of what is already seeming to be a very baffling case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 10, 2003 - 14:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Questions are just beginning to surface involving last week's Kentucky Derby win. Apparently now, a team of investigators are looking into the finish of that race, because of some newspaper photographs that seem to be revealing that there is an object in the hand of the jockey who was riding the winning horse, Funny Cide. The jockey, Jose Santos, and in these photographs, apparently there's a peculiar thing in his right hand, along with holding the crop. And on the telephone with us now is K.J. Matthews of WDRB. She was at a press conference that was conducted right there in Louisville, Kentucky, as it -- in connection with this investigation.
And K., why don't you tell us, what came about in this press conference?
K.J. MATTHEWS, WDRB CORRESPONDENT: Very little. Earlier this morning, the three stewards in charge of the Kentucky Derby and the lawyer for the Kentucky Racing Commission actually met behind closed doors. That was a little bit earlier this morning. And then a little bit later in the afternoon, about 1:00 p.m., the three stewards, that is, that oversee racing at Churchill Downs, came out and just made a very brief statement, stating that basically they have launched an investigation into question surrounding that published photo, of course, that was in "The Miami Herald," and that they're still waiting to talk to jockey Jose Santos, as well as the owner.
Now, you may recall that Santos has already acknowledged that he had an object in his hand during the race. And he described it, that is, as a Q-ring. That's what people use, or jockeys use to call to the outriders. No one is for sure if that is exactly what he had in his hand or why he would have any instrument in his hand. So right now, they're really just at the preliminary stage where they are trying to gather all the facts and they are being very, very careful not to accuse him or anyone of anything until more facts are gathered. But, of course, so much circumstances just swirling out here.
WHITFIELD: Well, K., then this begs the question. What is permissible for a jockey to be holding? Obviously, we see a lot of the jockeys are holding crops. What would be permissible by the standards of the stewards?
MATTHEWS: Well, you know, that is so interesting because the Kentucky Racing Commission, their posted rules, at least, do not prohibit a jockey from carrying an object other than those specifically prohibited, in his hand. And they have not listed exactly what that would be, but I don't know, if you remember a couple of years ago, back in 1999, another similar circumstance like this happened, where there was a jockey, Billy Patton (ph), who was suspended from riding for five years, after the Arkansas racing officials ruled that he had used a hand-held battery-operated device to spur along to victory in the Arkansas Derby.
Of course, we're not saying that that is what happened here at the Kentucky Derby, but it is very similar circumstance, possibly.
WHITFIELD: Now, these three stewards really do ultimately have the final say, don't they? They are the ultimate body of enforcing the rules of the derby?
MATTHEWS: You're absolutely right. The stewards' duties are to enforce the rules. They are there to make sure that all the jockeys and the owners are adhering to the rules. And so if they find that there has been any wrongdoing, it is their job to take it to the next action.
WHITFIELD: So what would happen ultimately if this ends up being the case for this race is thrown out, the results are thrown out, what happens to the prize money? What happens to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of betting dollars that were doled out?
MATTHEWS: That actually is a million-dollar question that everyone was asking today, because, of course, as you already know, the money has already been distributed to Jose Santos and the winner of the Kentucky Derby. So they're not even willing to speculate if it was found that he was carrying some battery-operated device or something illegal, what would happen if this race was considered null and void. Right now, they're just saying they're gathering the facts, and the next step could be a formal charge or hearing. But even if there is a formal charge, they're not even willing to speculate as to what would happen.
WHITFIELD: All right, K.J. Matthews of our affiliate WDRB on the telephone with us there from Louisville. Thanks very much for those details of what is already seeming to be a very baffling case.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
