Dodgers Pitcher Edwin Díaz and Jockey Brothers Linked to Illegal Cockfighting in Puerto Rico

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Díaz and prominent horse racing jockeys Jose and Irad Ortiz have been allegedly linked to illegal cockfighting activities in Puerto Rico, according to a USA Today report. The allegations stem from social media posts by the Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico, which advertised cockfighting tournaments featuring images of Díaz in his uniform and listed the Ortiz brothers as participants in a 2025 event. Although cockfighting was banned federally in U.S. territories in 2019, it remains a contentious cultural tradition in Puerto Rico, where local laws attempt to regulate internal activities despite federal prohibitions. Díaz was quoted in a local newspaper defending the practice as a childhood pastime. In response to the reports, Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming launched an investigation into the Ortiz brothers' involvement. Representatives for the athletes did not immediately comment. This controversy arises shortly after the Ortiz brothers finished first and second in the Kentucky Derby and while Díaz recovers from elbow surgery.