Illinois state racing officials are investigating whether jockeys conspired to throw a race to let a 70-year-old rider potentially make history.
At issue was whether riders in the July 23 race at Fairmount Park, near Collinsville east of St. Louis, tried to let R.A. ''Cowboy'' Jones win the race, making him the first known rider to win a thoroughbred race in seven different decades. Jones ended up finishing second, atop My Kentucky Breeze.
Uriel Lopez won the race aboard Ola D., outdistancing Jones by nearly two lengths.
Patrick Bovenzi is an Illinois state steward investigating the matter. He says everything is being reviewed.
It's not immediately clear how long the probe may take.
The park says in a statement the jockeys are independent contractors unaffiliated with the track.
