Delahoussaye Dealt Out of Triple Crown Bonus : Risen Star’s Co-Owner Calls Jockey ‘Greedy,’ Hints Colt’s Career May Be Over

Louie Roussel had bad news for Eddie Delahoussaye and bad news for himself Monday. Roussel, the co-owner and trainer of Risen Star, will not pay jockey Eddie Delahoussaye a disputed $100,000 share of the $1-million Triple Crown bonus, and Roussel also said that the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner will miss the Travers, hinting that the 3-year-old colt’s career may be over.

“Eddie’s entitled to his opinion (about the $100,000), but we had no agreement for him to be paid that money if the horse won the bonus,” Roussel said. “If he thought he should have been cut in on the bonus, why didn’t he come to me before the Belmont and say something about it?”

Delahoussaye, riding at Hollywood Park Monday, was told about Roussel’s remark and said he will be contacting the Jockeys’ Guild, the national union of riders, regarding legal support in the matter.

“All of the other jockeys whose horses won bonuses before this were paid 10% of the bonus,” Delahoussaye said.

Last year, which was the first time there was a Triple Crown bonus, Craig Perret was paid $100,000, earned by finishing second aboard Bet Twice in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and by winning the Belmont. This year, Risen Star earned the bonus, which is given to the horse with the best finishes in the three races, by running third in the Derby and winning the Preakness and Belmont.

Delahoussaye was paid 10% of Risen Star’s regular Triple Crown purses--collecting $5,000 for the Derby, $41,370 for the Preakness and $30,372 for the Belmont. Roussel said that he paid Delahoussaye 5% more than what the Jockeys’ Guild contract called for in the Derby, and that he also reimbursed the jockey for close to $15,000 in Triple Crown expenses. Delahoussaye has said that his expenses were about $12,000.

“Eddie was lucky to get the chance to ride this horse,” Roussel said in a phone interview from New York. “And he did well. I think what he’s asking for is ridiculous. He’s getting a little greedy. He’s got a bad case of the gimmes.”

Apparently the Jockeys’ Guild standard rider’s contract doesn’t mention bonuses, which have been offered by tracks and sponsors in recent years to induce owners and trainers to run their horses.

Roussel said that instead of paying Delahoussaye, he will give the $100,000 to a New York summer-camp program for children in Delahoussaye’s name.

“We’ll see about that,” Delahoussaye said. “He can’t put my name on anything without my permission.”

Roussel was critical of Delahoussaye for not paying the trainer’s barn help a share of his stakes earnings.

“Eddie showed his true character when he did that,” Roussel said.

Roussel would not have to look far to find a rider to replace Delahoussaye, but that step may be academic if Risen Star doesn’t run again. After an ultrasound test on the horse’s right foreleg Sunday night at Belmont Park, the lesion that appeared just above the horse’s ankle before the Belmont Stakes was still there.

Risen Star, who was a doubtful starter in the week leading up to the Belmont, will have another ultrasound treatment on July 24.

“If we can’t heal him, we’ll retire him,” Roussel said. “The Travers is out, and even if the lesion goes away, there would hardly be enough time to run in the Super Derby (at Louisiana Downs) or the Jockey Club Gold Cup (at Belmont).”

Risen Star, the most accomplished son of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat, has been syndicated for breeding for $14 million, with Roussel and his partner, Ronnie Lamarque, retaining a 50% interest. He is expected to begin his stud career next year at Walmac International, a nursery in Lexington, Ky.

“There is fiber damage in the ligaments,” said Mike Hauser, the veterinarian who ran Sunday’s ultrasound test. “What we’ll be looking for on the 24th is fibrosis. That would indicate that there has been a healing.”

Said Rousell: “I think this horse has already done enough to be the 3-year-old champion. But we’d like to win horse of the year with him, too. And I think to do that we’d have to beat older horses. The race I’d like to run him in the most is the Jockey Club Gold Cup.”