LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Famed jockey Robby Albarado's Kentucky racing career could be on the line, as his now ex-girlfriend told jurors Tuesday about the fight that led to his arrest on the day before the Kentucky Derby.
WDRB News is not identifying the woman, as police say she is the victim of domestic abuse. She was on the witness stand for more than two hours talking about how her rocky relationship with Albarado crumbled on April 30th of this year.
The couple had an argument on the phone and the woman said she went to Albarado's home, where she once lived to mend things. But she ended up listening to a message on his cell phone from another woman and then returning that woman's call.
She told the jury Albarado got out of bed and flew into a rage, trying to get his cell phone back. That's when she says she ran into the restroom and he kicked open the door: "And I remember backing up and feeling his hands grabbing and tugging at my hands. And I remember he came to the side of me and he tried picking me up and he picked me up to my tip toes and I remember I fell over."
She continued: "I kept yelling, 'Get off,' and he wouldn't, he kept tugging and pushing and pulling while I was on the floor...I remember I closed my eyes and pushed him off of me with my feet and he flew over the closet and landed on a lamp."
The woman suffered an injured shoulder and bruises in the incident.
Albarado is charged with fourth degree assault and was suspended from horse racing in Kentucky.
The famed jockey lost his mount on the day of the Oaks race.
Albarado's attorneys say the accuser is a scorned woman looking for revenge and that's why she waited several days to go the hospital or even police. They say Albarado grabbed the woman only to get his phone back and then they fell to the ground together.
Defense attorney David Lambertus maintains, "I guarantee you you won't see fist marks, smack marks, kick marks, punch marks, or anything else...Use sense and judgment, use your brain but base it not on prosecutors' spin or my spin. You base it on what really counts -- reports and text and you read them and sworn testimony and then you think, is this a coincidence or a little bit of a fib?"
Albarado faced domestic abuse charges involving his former wife in April of 2011, but he pleaded to a lesser charge. Testimony continues Wednesday.
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