Chuckles, Santos has no libel case.

Carlson reported what he thought he heard -- "cue ring." As I understand it (based on what I've read in relation to this story), there's no rule against a jockey carrying certain objects, and there's no rule against a jockey carrying a "cue ring." It's irresponsible to report something if you weren't sure of what the person said, but it's not inherently libelous. It would be different if Carlson reported that he heard Santos say he was carrying a buzzer (which is illegal/against the rules). If Carlson reported that Santos said he was carrying a buzzer and then claimed he misunderstood what Jose said, that might be libel. As far as I can see, reporting that Jose said he was carrying a cue ring is the same thing as reporting that he said he was carrying his house keys. So what?

You can't blame Carlson (entirely) for the fact that others assumed he was carrying a buzzer when he said "cue ring." Carlson didn't force anyone to do anything, least of all the Kentucky officials who decided to look into it. Plenty of people saw the picture and thought he was carrying something. Seemed like a natural question, "hey Jose, what was that?" Jockeys have licenses and being questioned is part of the deal. The only reputations with lingering damage as far as I can see belong to the Miami Herald and Carlson.

I agree with everything else that's been said here (Carlson is an idiot). I think Mall is on the right track, and I believe what Carlson was trying to do was establish that Santos was carrying SOMETHING and then go from there.

HP