Dodgers Pitcher, Horse Racing Jockeys Linked To Cockfighting In Puerto Rico

A Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 2 of nan apical jockeys successful equine racing were allegedly linked to forbidden cockfighting successful Puerto Rico done societal media posts, according to reporting from USA Today.

The article, published Thursday, highlights social media posts advertizing cockfighting tournaments that image three-time All-Star person Edwin Díaz successful his Dodgers azygous and an article successful El Nuevo Día, nan largest circulating newspaper successful Puerto Rico, quoting Díaz.

Brothers and jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, who vanished first and second, respectively, successful nan Kentucky Derby this period were advertised arsenic participants successful a cockfighting tourney successful 2025, according to nan outlet.

Representatives for Díaz and nan Ortiz brothers did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Thursday. Diaz and nan Ortiz brothers were calved successful Puerto Rico wherever cockfighting has been a longstanding taste tradition, a monolithic manufacture and a root of hostility betwixt nan U.S. territory and nan national government.

In 2019, a national rule banning cockfighting took effect successful Puerto Rico. Before nan law, nan humor athletics had been made forbidden successful each 50 states, but not U.S. territories. Many Puerto Ricans saw nan prohibition arsenic an onslaught connected their civilization and vowed to defy nan law.

Puerto Rico responded by passing a rule saying that it’s ineligible to big cockfights arsenic agelong arsenic group don’t export aliases import nan animals aliases immoderate equipment aliases services related to cockfighting. The U.S. Supreme Court successful 2021 declined to perceive a situation to nan national rule brought by a group that based on Congress exceeded its powerfulness by applying nan prohibition to Puerto Rico.

In the El Nuevo Día story, which published successful March, Díaz is quoted talking astir cockfighting, saying it was a pastime he’d followed since he was a child. He was attending a tourney successful which his family entered 4 roosters, according to nan article.

“It’s ineligible successful Puerto Rico, convey God. Otherwise, I wouldn’t beryllium here,” he said successful Spanish. “It’s thing I’ve done since childhood, thing my dada instilled successful me.”

The Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69-million statement successful December 2025. Last month, nan squad announced that Díaz was having surgery to region “loose bodies” successful his correct elbow and would beryllium retired until nan 2nd half of nan season.

A Facebook post by Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico connected Dec. 17, 2025, pictures nan Ortiz brothers and lists them arsenic participants successful a cockfighting event. The post, which is successful Spanish, notes that nan brothers excel successful world equine racing, but besides person a passion for cockfighting.

“Brothers Irad and José Luis Ortiz accepted nan situation of participating successful nan ‘Caribbean Grand Champion’ tourney pinch a azygous goal: to go undisputed champions,” nan station publication successful Spanish.

Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming, which is charged pinch regulating equine racing, launched an investigation aft receiving reports that Irad Ortiz and Jose Ortiz were participating successful a cockfighting event, Travers Manley, nan elder vice president of gaming and media relations for nan organization, wrote successful a connection to The Times. It is not clear erstwhile nan investigation specifically began.

“The investigation included nan stewards gathering pinch Irad and Jose. Following nan investigation, KHRG stewards elected not to return administrative action against them,” Manley wrote.