Maryland State Steward Adam Campola said Saturday that the Laurel stewards took a close look at Paco Lopez's winning ride aboard Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) in the GI Preakness Stakes, but decided not to take action because they did not believe that the jockey violated any of HISA's rules related to misuse of the whip.PETA called on Maryland officials to strip Lopez of his race winnings and suspend him. It contended that he violated HISA Rule 2280(c)(1), which reads, “A Jockey shall not: raise the crop with the Jockey's wrist above the Jockey's helmet when using the crop.”PETA sent out a press release which included still photos that showed that Lopez might have raised his arm above his helmet before striking Napoleon Solo.“We looked at it and considered that Paco has an unorthodox riding style,” Campola said. “He's a little bit all over the place and that can make it look like he's doing something he may not be doing. You also have to remember that still shots aren't always the most accurate way of looking at something. If you watch the head-on shot from the replay, that tells s a different picture. (PETA) is always looking after these things and they're always extra vigilant when it comes to Paco. He only used the crop four times on that horse, so maybe he's a learning his lesson. We just didn't see anything that made us decide he should be sanctioned.”In its statement regarding Lopez, PETA said: “Jockeys who repeatedly flout rules designed to protect horses have no place in racing,” the PETA email continued. “Just weeks after serving a six-month suspension for violating whip rules, Paco Lopez appears to have ridden to victory in Saturday's Preakness Stakes while breaking the very same rule by yet again raising his whip hand above helmet level before striking Thoroughbred Napoleon Solo. Lopez has violated whip rules multiple times and served at least six suspensions in 2025 alone. He has shown again and again, particularly in big money races like the $2 million Preakness Stakes and the $500,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course last fall, that he has no regard for the rules–or for the horses those rules are meant to protect. PETA is calling on racing officials to review the video and still shots to determine if this serial violator's conduct warrants forfeiture of his $120,000 share of the Preakness prize money and banishment from racing.”The post Maryland Steward Explains Decision Not To Penalize Lopez For Preakness Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.