Two jockeys who have both won the Kentucky Derby, along with a Major League Baseball pitcher, are reportedly connected to an illegal cockfighting event in Puerto Rico.
The jockeys, Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr., are brothers and have been competing against each other this year, notably in the recent Kentucky Derby, and are set to race again for the Triple Crown in the upcoming Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
According to the ongoing investigation, the Ortiz brothers appear to have shared messages on social media about their involvement in illegal cockfighting events back in Puerto Rico.
A video circulating on X allegedly depicts the brothers while they are fundraising on the floor of a cockfighting venue known as Club Galistico de Naguabo.
Additionally, they are featured as participants on a Facebook page run by a cockfight organizer and rooster breeder named Oscar Calderon.
Calderon’s page states, “They have emerged as the most successful brothers in international horse racing; however, they also share a passion for cockfighting, and we are honored to have them compete in the Coliseum.”
The report also mentions Edwin Diaz, a three-time All-Star currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers, suggesting he took part in a cockfighting event, even wearing his Dodgers uniform to promote an event linked to the Puerto Rico Cockfighting Club.
This club notably invited fans to a special match and tribute to Edwin “Sugar” Diaz, portraying him as one of Puerto Rico’s prideful figures.
Furthermore, on March 10, a Puerto Rican newspaper published a photo of Diaz inside a cockfighting ring.
Several other baseball players, including Diaz’s brother Alexis and former MLB catcher Martin Maldonado, have also been tied to cockfighting events in Puerto Rico.
Cockfighting, though illegal in all U.S. states and territories, remains popular in Puerto Rico, where many locals feel it’s a significant part of their culture and oppose U.S. intervention in the long-standing tradition.
The paper reached out to various horse racing organizations in the U.S., but most stated they have no authority over the Ortiz brothers’ actions in Puerto Rico. The Kentucky Derby investigation has thus far resulted in no disciplinary action against them.
It’s uncertain if Major League Baseball will pursue an investigation into the matter.
As of now, the athletes have not made any public statements regarding the situation.
