Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings Feb. 14 – 20

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

NEW YORK

Track: Aqueduct

Date: 02/16/2023

Licensee: Linda Rice, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine, 10-day suspension

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Drug Equine Testing Laboratory of the finding of Phenylbutazone in the post-race sample taken from horse ” Winter Pool ” #(4) which raced at Aqueduct Racetrack in the

1st race and finished 1st on January 7th 2023. Trainer of record Linda Rice having been notified of the post-race findings and having waived her right to an appeal is hereby fined the sum of one thousand ($1,000) dollars and suspended 10 Calandar days effective February 20th 2023, through March 1st 2023 inclusive.

Furthermore, the Stewards order horse ” Winter Pool ” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows:

1. (#5) Kumar
2. (#2) Scotty
3. (#3) Goldini
4. (#6) Icy Storm
5. (#7) Supply Chain
6. (#1) Forever Wicked

Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly nor indirectly participate in New York State Pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privilages and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privilages of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advise or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses.

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal, except for the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

VIOLATIONS OF CROP RULE

Aqueduct

Heman Kumar Harkie – violation date February 18; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Jalon Lateef Abdiel Samuel – violation date February 20; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Golden Gate Fields

Francisco Alvarado — violation date February 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Gulfstream Park

Ismerio Villalobos – violation date February 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Mahoning Valey Racecourse

Edilberto Dominguez – violation date February 14; $500 fine and three-day suspension, four-to-nine strikes over limit, on appeal and stay granted

Edilberto Dominguez – violation date February 14; Seven-day suspension, multiple point violations, on appeal and stay granted

Oaklawn Park

Cristian Alexis Torres – violation date February 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Ramsey Zimmerman – violation date February 18; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

David Cabrera – violation date February 18; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Keith James Asmussen – violation date February 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Tampa Bay Downs

Melissa Iorio – violation date February 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Turf Paradise

Enrique Garcia – violation date February 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Enrique Garcia – violation date February 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes