Officials with Oaklawn Park and the Arkansas Racing Commission announced April 15 they have uncovered evidence that has led them to believe jockey Billy Patin had an electrical device in his possession when he rode longshot Valhol to a 4 1/2-length victory in the April 10 Arkansas Derby (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park.

During an emergency telephone meeting, the racing commission voted unanimously to impanel the Oaklawn stewards–no longer on the payroll because the track’s meet ended the day of the Arkansas Derby–to conduct a complete investigation and take appropriate action. The commission voted to withhold distribution of the winner’s $300,000 share of the purse.

Patin has denied the charge, and would not comment upon his arrival at Churchill Downs, where Valhol continues to prepare for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). But just after the charges were leveled, he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “I swear to God that I never did that.”

Valhol’s owner, James Jackson, labeled the investigation a “witch hunt” and said he was “absolutely distraught” about the situation. “Billy had no reason in the world to do that,” Jackson said. “You know, this meant too much to every one of us for us to cheat