Jockey charged with attempted murder following arrest in Louisiana

A Graded-winning jockey in the US has been charged with attempted murder after he was arrested by police in Louisiana on Saturday.

Charles J. (C. J.) McMahon, 26, was detained by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office in the state on January 2 and has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, illegal use of weapons and possession of Schedule 1 drugs.

McMahon, who has ridden 1,046 winners and earned $22,682,202 in prize-money during his career, was last seen riding at the Delta Downs meet in Louisiana on December 28 and was due to ride at Sam Houston Park in Texas on Friday and Saturday.

The jockey rode 47 winners last year and previously enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2015 when he was ranked the 11th best jockey nationally after riding 219 winners in a calendar year.

McMahon has also won three stakes races at Graded level in the Texas Mile, Super Derby and Oklahoma Derby, which all came in 2016, but he was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for 30 days a year later after testing positive for using drugs including methamphetamine.

A bail bond of $30,000 was set for the three charges and McMahon is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

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