Madrid judge Juan Carlos Peinado García, who is investigating the Spanish prime minister’s wife, Begoña Gómez, is also the owner of several thoroughbred horse racing stables, according to El Periódico. The judge’s involvement in horse racing, which he shares with his children, has seen his horses compete in 271 races over two decades.

Peinado, the head of Madrid’s Instruction Court number 41, has already named Gómez, her assistant Cristina Álvarez, and businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés as accused parties in his investigation. Officials said a formal resolution to open oral proceedings against them for alleged embezzlement and influence peddling is expected in the coming days.

On 14 May 2026, Peinado’s horse, Canalejas, won the Prix de Pontarme at Paris Longchamp racecourse. The horse, named after José Canalejas, a former Spanish prime minister, secured a prize and breeding subsidy totalling €44,000 for its owner. Canalejas’ jockey, French rider Alexis Pouchin, wore colours representing Spain during the race.

The judge’s racing activity is spread across stables registered under the names ‘JUAN CARLOS PEINADO GARCÍA’, ‘JUAN PEINADO’, ‘SRA. PATRICIA PEINADO’, ‘PATRICIA PEINADO’, and ‘INTERLAWYERS’. In horse racing terms, a stable is a group of horses belonging to the same owner, farm, or competition team.

The stables ‘Sra. Patricia Peinado’ and ‘Patricia Peinado’ are owned by Patricia María Peinado Toledo, the judge’s daughter. She is a councillor for the Southern Zone in the Popular Party government of Pozuelo de Alarcón Town Council in Madrid. Juan Carlos Peinado Toledo, the judge’s son, is listed as a breeder at Haras Des Fontaines in Mascaras, Occitania, France, a professional equestrian establishment focused on the reproduction, birth, boarding, and care of thoroughbred racehorses.

The earliest recorded race involving the Peinado family’s stables was on 15 August 2005 at the San Sebastián racecourse, with the horse Road Far Fast. Data compiled by El Periódico shows the ‘Juan Carlos Peinado García’ stable competed in 91 races between 12 May 2014 and 14 May 2026, with 58 of those races taking place between 28 November 2024 and 14 May 2026.

Other stables linked to the family also show significant activity. ‘Juan Peinado’ competed in 121 races from 6 December 2008 to 23 May 2019, while ‘Interlawyers’ ran four races between 29 June 2014 and 8 September 2019. Patricia Peinado’s stables, ‘Sra. Patricia Peinado’ and ‘Patricia Peinado’, took part in 83 and three races respectively, with the former’s last recorded race on 2 September 2023 at La Teste de Buch racecourse in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. More Catalonia news