Winning jockey arrested on suspicion of drunk driving
The Hall of Fame jockey who won the opening-day stakes at this summer’s Del Mar thoroughbred-racing season was jailed hours later on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Torrey Highlands, authorities said
today.
San Diego police arrested Mike Earl Smith, 45, shortly before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 13900 block of Via Albertura, near Carmel Valley Road, SDPD Lt. Andra Brown said.
The Pasadena resident’s 2011 Land Rover allegedly was weaving while passing through the area at a very slow speed, prompting a patrol officer to pull Smith over on suspicion of DUI, Brown said. The jockey said he had left a restaurant a short time earlier.
Smith was booked into county jail early this morning, then was released after posting $2,500 bail several hours later, according to sheriff’s officials. His initial court date in the case is scheduled for Sept. 1.
On Wednesday, the opening day of the 72nd summer season of thoroughbred racing in Del Mar, Smith rode favorite Mr. Commons to victory in the featured $112,100 Oceanside Stakes in front of a crowd deemed to be the largest in the oceanfront track’s 74-year history.
Smith, a 2003 inductee in the horse-racing Hall of Fame, has won 10 American Classic and Breeders’ Cup races, including the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Preakness Stakes, according to the Keeneland thoroughbred racing agency.
— City News Service
Related posts:
- Jockey hurt, horse euthanized on Del Mar’s opening day
- Opening day has record attendance
- Fewer drunk driving arrests reported
- Two arrested on suspicion of buying alcohol for underage decoys
- North County Assemblyman Martin Garrick issues apology for drunk driving arrest
Short URL: http://www.delmartimes.net/?p=25642
Posted by Lorine Wright
on Jul 21, 2011. Filed under Carmel Valley, Del Mar, News, Solana Beach.
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