Chapa Posts Bond, Arraignment Feb. 6

Jockey Roman Chapa has posted a $10,000 surety bond with Harris County District Court in Texas and will be arraigned Feb. 6 on felony charges of “unlawful influence on racing” in conjunction with his alleged use of an electrical device at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 17. 

It was unclear from the court filings whether Chapa was arrested or turned himself in. 

The database lists the 43-year-old jockey as being released on Wednesday, with the bond filed and receipted on Thursday. 

According to probable cause paperwork filed Jan. 23 by Texas Department of Safety peace officer Jeffrey Green, Chapa “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” used an electrical device to stimulate Quiet Acceleration (Silent Picture) to a stakes win. 

The alleged device came to light after close-ups of otherwise innocuous photographs of the win revealed what appears to be a tan, palm-sized device with protruding prongs in Chapa’s partially closed left hand. 

Chapa has been summarily suspended by SHRP stewards, but has been granted an appeal hearing by the Texas Racing Commission on Feb. 9. 

Chapa has twice previously been suspended, in 1993 and 2007, for attempting to stimulate or frighten a racehorse into running faster.