PETA raises whip concerns after Paco Lopez’s Preakness win with Napoleon Solo

Laurel Park’s stewards are now reviewing the winning ride on Napoleon Solo, weighing whether Paco Lopez’s use of the crop crossed the line under HISA rule 2280(c)(1). The question is straightforward and serious: did Lopez raise his whip above his helmet before striking the colt, and if so, does the footage warrant discipline, or no action at all?

The scrutiny landed only after Napoleon Solo captured the 151st Preakness Stakes in 1:58.69 for the $2 million Grade I at Laurel Park, the first time the middle jewel of the Triple Crown was run there instead of Pimlico. Laurel had already put the race on its 2026 live schedule for Saturday, May 16, with first post set for 10:30 a.m., underscoring how much attention the venue shift was going to draw before the gate ever opened.

PETA said Lopez appeared to raise his whip above his helmet on three separate occasions before striking Napoleon Solo, and it circulated still photos from the head-on replay to back up its complaint. The group pointed directly to HISA’s crop provision barring a jockey from lifting the crop with the wrist above the helmet. HISA said it was aware of the concerns and that Laurel stewards would review the footage and the relevant facts before deciding whether any action was warranted.

The review arrives with extra weight because Lopez’s recent disciplinary history is already part of the conversation. HISA announced a six-month suspension for Lopez in September 2025, effective September 23, stemming from a December 2024 crop incident. PETA also said in February 2026 that Lopez was still violating whipping rules while racing in Louisiana during that suspension, adding more context to the latest complaint.

This is why the Preakness dispute reaches beyond one ride and one replay. HISA’s racetrack safety rules were approved by the FTC and implemented on July 1, 2022, and its anti-doping and medication rules took effect on May 22, 2023. That framework was designed to create a national standard, but high-profile cases like this one show how the sport’s credibility still depends on how clearly and quickly those standards are enforced in public view.

For Laurel Park, the optics matter as much as the outcome. Hosting the Preakness for the first time gave the track a marquee showcase. Now the winning ride itself has become the test case, with stewards, HISA, and the replay all carrying the same burden: show exactly where the line is, and whether it was crossed.