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Kentucky Derby winning jockeys, MLB pitcher tied to illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico
Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming Corporation reviewed reports on the brothers and chose not to discipline them after meeting with stewards.
- The Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming Corporation investigated jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. following reports linking them to illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico, but regulators elected not to take administrative action.
- Social media posts, including a January 14, 2025, photograph, appear to link the brothers to cockfighting in Puerto Rico, showing them holding roosters in a cockfighting pit.
- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz also faces scrutiny for alleged cockfighting ties, with advertisements featuring the All-Star in his team uniform at events in Puerto Rico.
- Although cockfighting has been a federal felony in all U.S. territories since 2019, enforcement remains inconsistent on the island where the practice is considered culturally significant.
- Animal rights organization PETA urged the Eclipse Awards to disqualify the jockeys, while the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority noted it lacks jurisdiction over off-track conduct.
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Dodgers pitcher, horse racing jockeys linked to cockfighting in Puerto Rico
All-Star closer Edwin Díaz and brothers Jose and Irad Ortiz were allegedly linked to illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico through social media posts, according to reporting from USA Today.
·Los Angeles, United States
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USA Today Alleges More Cockfighting Ties to Ortiz Brothers
A story in the Thursday edition of USA Today alleges that the ties to cockfighting for Jose and Irad Ortiz go beyond the social media video which surfaced in January showing them taking bets at an undated cockfight, documenting photos and social media posts which suggest a deeper participation in the sport. In January, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to the NTRA asking that the brothers be banned from further…
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
L 38%
C 62%
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