KENTUCKY DERBY Jockey Jose Santos cleared of any violations in race

He'll be aboard Funny Cide on Saturday in the Preakness.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Jose Santos hopes the sleepless nights, taunts from racing fans and questions about his integrity are over.
Now his children can return to the racetrack and cheer for their father to bring home another winner.
"I am thankful this nightmare is over," Santos said Monday after the Churchill Downs stewards determined he had not broken any rules in riding Funny Cide to victory in the Derby on May 3.
And wouldn't it be something if the jockey who won the Kentucky Derby aboard Funny Cide can win the Preakness on Saturday and set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes on June 7?
After the weekend Santos endured, there can't be many people rooting against him.
"A week ago, I was in the happiest moment of my life," Santos said. "And then this photograph came in, in Miami, and destroyed my career, actually."
Photograph brought questions
Stewards investigated the finish of the Derby after a photograph was brought to their attention by The Miami Herald late last week. The shot, by Getty Images, showed a dark area in the space between Santos' hand and whip as he crossed the finish line.
When the stewards examined the photo magnified 250 times, it turned out to be two things: the silks of Jerry Bailey, who finished second aboard Empire Maker, and part of a strap from his goggles, chief steward Bernie Hettel said.
"One picture says it all, doesn't it?" Hettel said.
Santos said he was angry the Herald ran the photo and a story that raised questions whether he might have carried an illegal device in his right hand when he crossed the finish line.
"It was a terrible situation for my family," he said at a news conference following a 90-minute meeting with the stewards. "My little boy, my No. 1 fan, he was at home and I told him everything would be OK. And he told me, 'All the people who cheat in racing, Daddy, you're not a cheater.' I'm happy for them this is over."
Santos said he lost sleep. A daughter stayed home from school rather than face her classmates. His son stayed away from Belmont Park over the weekend, when fans taunted Santos -- "They said, 'You're not winning because they took your battery away,"' the jockey said.
Gets back to work
Santos can get back to his Preakness plans. He was back in New York for Funny Cide's final workout today. Then it's off to Baltimore with his family Thursday to prepare for the second leg of the Triple Crown. A victory and the chestnut gelding would have a chance to take the Belmont and become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.