Horse Jockey Busted After Police Find Something Shocking In Picture (Photos)

A troubling photo of Eric Chapa near the finish line at Sam Houston Race Park in Harris County, Texas, resulted in felony charges for the veteran horse jockey. 

Chapa was riding his horse, Quiet Acceleration, when he was photographed by a man contracted to take photos for promotional use. The photo, which was spread throughout the racing community, showed a small beige object in Chapa’s left hand – an illegal device that delivers an electrical shock to the horse, making it go faster.

Chapa won $50,000 in the race, but was later charged with unlawful influence on racing. KPCR-TV reported that Chapa came under scrutiny after he contacted the photographer and demanded the picture be removed from Race Park’s website.

Chapa denied the charges and said the picture was edited because “someone was trying to frame him,” investigators stated. 

This wasn’t the first time that Chapa had been in trouble with authorities for his treatment of animals. In 1994, Chapa was fined $2,500 and suspended by the State Racing Commission for using a nail to spur his horse during a race at Trinity Meadows, state records showed. 

The records also showed that Chapa was fined $100 by the Commission in 2012 for hitting his horse in the face during a race at Sam Houston Race Park.

Chapa also spent 10 days in jail after being charged with beating a dog with a strap in 2002.

Source: KPCR-TV / Photo credit: KPCR-TV