Mandatory Credit: Photo by Maureen McLean/Shutterstock (16936406bv) Horse BACIO ridden by jockey Juan J Hernandez wins the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) on Day Four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. Owner My Racehorse, Shockley, Hanna, Messenger, Trainer Wesley Ward, USA, Breeder Hunter Valley Farm & Tony Hegarty. There was a Stewards Enquiry after the jockey’s overgirth fell off and was therefore not included when the jockey weighed in, however, it was found in the Parade Ring and therefore the win was upheld Horse Racing, Royal Ascot Day Four, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, UK – 19 Jun 2026 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
A WINNING Royal Ascot jockey has been banned after a farcical rules fiasco almost saw him robbed of a £60,000 victory.
Mexican jockey Juan Hernandez was sensational on runaway Palace of Holyroodhouse winner Bacio.
Jockey Juan Hernandez has been banned after winning the Palace Of Holyroodhouse with horse Bacio on day four of Royal Ascot Credit: PA
The Wesley Ward-trained three-year-old colt was punted off the boards ahead of the final 5f race on Friday and sent off 3-1.
Drawn in stall 31, he bolted out the stalls and made a mockery of his BHA rating of 100.
Blitzing down the golden highway on the stand side, he was not for catching and ran out a three-and-three-quarter length winner, securing a cheque for just under £62,000.
The victory was not in doubt until, sensationally, the clerk of the scales objected to the winner.
Usually when this happens it is nigh-on certain a winner will be thrown out.
Hernandez was found to have weighed in 2lbs lighter (weighed in 9st3lbs and weighed out 9st5lbs) than he weighed out.
There was mass confusion in the ring, echoing the scenes when Benvenuto Cellini was declared a non-runner in the Derby just two weeks earlier.
However, Hernandez, connections and Bacio were allowed to keep the race after it emerged a piece of equipment had been missing.
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Urgent video reviews revealed the over-girth had been left in the winner’s enclosure and Hernandez did not have it on his person when he weighed in.
That proved the difference in the two readings.
The official BHA stewards’ report read: “The Clerk of the Scales objected to the winner, BACIO (USA), ridden by Juan J Hernandez, and trained by Wesley Ward on the grounds of the rider originally weighing in at 9st 3lbs having weighed out at 9st 5lbs.
“The rider, the trainer and the Clerk of the Scales were interviewed and recordings of the rider unsaddling his horse in the winner’s enclosure were viewed.
“After viewing the recordings and noting that a representative of Ward had taken the over-girth whilst Hernandez was in the process of unsaddling, Hernandez was re-weighed with the over-girth, which had been located in the winner’s enclosure, and was found to be within allowable parameters.
“Therefore, being satisfied that BACIO (USA) had carried the correct weight during the race, the Stewards confirmed the placing of BACIO (USA).
“Hernandez was suspended for one day for weighing in without the full equipment with which he weighed out.”
There would have been uproar had the winner been thrown out – but it is a jockey’s responsibility to ensure he weighs in correctly.
Pro punter Johnny Dineen could not believe the victory was allowed to stand and said it wouldn’t have had it been at another racecourse.
Speaking with the Racing Post, he said: “Either you have a rule or you don’t. If that had been Ripon on a Thursday what would have happened?
“I have no doubt he carried the correct weight in the race, but a rule was broken and either there’s a penalty or there isn’t.”
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