Just a week after his triumphant win at the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Junior Alvarado has been slapped with a hefty £47,000 fine and a two-day racing suspension for breaching crop use rules while riding Sovereignty on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The punishment, initially set to be standard, was doubled when it emerged that Alvarado had a previous violation within the last 180 days.

The ruling was handed down by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) following a meeting between Alvarado and venue stewards. HISA established that Alvarado used his riding crop eight times during the Derby, exceeding the legal limit of six by two.

Initially, the fine was set at 10 percent of his race earnings but was hiked up to 20 percent due to the repeat offence. His suspension will run from May 29 to May 30, clashing with the Penn Mile Stakes which boasts a prize pool of £400,000.

Alvarado has a ten-day window to appeal the decision.

Speaking out after the verdict, Alvarado admitted he had forgotten about the crop rule for the event. "I was seeing my dream coming true right in front of me. The whip rule was the last thing I had in my mind," he confessed to USA Today.

"I have to pay the consequences, I guess. I've been trained to think, 'What could I have done different? If I had to do it again, how could I make sure I don't go over?' I don't see how.

"You're about to win the biggest race in the world. I can't think about how many (times) I'm hitting the horse. I'm just riding."

While the authority did not officially state which race triggered Alvarado's first violation, it dates the incident to early November, during a run that included massive purses in the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.

That stretch saw Alvarado win a portion of $7 million and $1 million in back-to-back marquee races via Equibase.

Despite the ruling, Sovereignty's Derby win stands. For Alvarado, it was his first win in five previous Kentucky Derby efforts.

Sovereignty is not expected to run in the Preakness Stakes to compete for the Triple Crown is will reportedly prepare for the Belmont Stakes on June 7 in New York.

Since winning the Derby, Alvarado has ridden in 12 races at Belmont at the Big A and Churchill Downs in smaller events, including a win while riding Ranger Battalion on May 8.

The victory earned him a portion of the $52,000 purse. He's also finished second in the Grade 3 John A.

Nerud Stakes on Silver Slugger, fourth in the Peter Pan Stakes, and third aboard Kulapat in a Maiden Special Weight.

His full Derby Day included three other mounts before Race 12. He took second on Chillax, second on Patriot Spirit, and eighth while riding Serene Seraph in the Grade 2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

His worst finish came on Megalodon, who finished 11th in the Grade 1 American Turf Stakes.