Jockey Eriluis Vaz, one of two riders involved in a mounted fight during Philadelphia Park's fifth race Jan. 8, has issued a public apology for what he terms "bad judgment" as he awaits a hearing before the stewards along with fellow rider Ademar Santos.

"I would like to … say how sorry I really am for the incident that happened between myself and Mr. Santos," Vaz wrote in a statement that was issued to the horse racing television network TVG. "I made a terrible mistake reacting the way I did during the race the other day."

Vaz and Santos face a stewards' ruling after coming to blows during the running of a race for $7,500 claimers at Philadelphia Park. Vaz was racing along the rail on the Luis Calderon-trained Divine Light and sent his mount toward the outside, causing Santos, aboard John Dunn trainee Mi Helena, to be pinched between horses. As Vaz corrected his mount, Santos stood in the irons and turned his head to speak to Vaz.

"I asked, 'Man, why you go like that?'" Santos told The Philadelphia Inquirer