Paco Lopez, the jockey who was provisionally suspended on Wednesday, one day after he struck a horse with a whip after a race, has announced that he will take time off from riding “to seek appropriate counseling and work on myself,” the rider said in a social media post on Thursday. In the post, Lopez said that he takes “full responsibility” for the incident, which occurred after the fifth race on Tuesday at Parx racetrack outside Philadelphia. After struggling to control his mount, a 2-year-old colt named National Law, during the stretch run of the race, which he ultimately won, Lopez struck the horse across the neck with the body of his whip while returning to the winner’s circle, an incident caught on camera. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority suspended Lopez on Wednesday and promised an “expedited” adjudication of the incident. “I am aware that our sport is under a lot of scrutiny and I fully apologize to everyone involved in our sport – fans, horsemen, management, racing commissions, HISA, and of course, National Law,” Lopez wrote. “My actions were reactionary, in the heat of the moment, and I am truly sorry.” :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Lisa Lazarus, the chief executive officer of HISA, said that she spoke with Lopez’s “representatives” earlier on Thursday and that the suspension issued on Wednesday would remain in place indefinitely, under an agreement from both parties. As a result of the discussions, Lopez agreed to make “meaningful” donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund and a New Jersey aftercare organization, Second Call, prior to the end of the year, Lazarus said. Lopez also said he would enroll in counseling. “Once HISA is satisfied Lopez has dealt with his issues and is ready to commit himself to prioritizing horse welfare and the safety of his fellow jockeys, we will discuss his eventual return to racing,” Lazarus said. Lopez was second in the national rider standings by wins at the time of his suspension, with 269 wins from 1,313 mounts. After the Tuesday incident, several owners, including those of National Law, criticized Lopez’s behavior. Lopez has been issued seven citations for improper whip use since HISA began enforcing riding-crop regulations in the summer of 2022. Those regulations generally limit riders to six strokes of the whip during a race, with exceptions to protect the safety of horses and riders. “It cannot be overstated how much I love horses and this industry,” Lopez wrote in the posting. “Horse racing has been my whole life and I look forward to a return in the near future.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.