By Daniel Ross
Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.
Among this week's rulings, stable employee Gabriel Hilardo Rivera has been issued a six-year suspension and $75,000 fine by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), after three banned substances were found in his possession back in March.
According to the posted final decision, a HIWU investigator “observed Gabriel Hilardo Rivera carry and attempt to conceal a black tackle box behind the rear tire of a vehicle while he was working at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Youngstown, Ohio. Another HIWU Investigator then joined the first HIWU Investigator and they photographed and searched the tackle box. Inside they found various injectable medications, needles, and syringes.”
The three injectable banned substances comprised a bottle labelled Dolor (containing pitcher plant extract), a bottle labelled Buta-fenil and a bottle labelled Dexalan (the latter two foreign-made pharmacological substances not approved for use in the U.S. and therefore banned under HISA).
NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 08/27/2024
Licensee: Mark Glatt, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mi Hermano Ramon on 6/24/24.
Date: 08/27/2024
Licensee: Donaciano Gonzalez, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Full Time Strutin, who finished third at Thistledown on 7/4/24.
Date: 08/23/2024
Licensee: Rob Atras, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Treated as 1 violation under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in samples taken from Condiment Girl (fourth at Churchill Downs on 5/25/24), Harrodsburg (won at Churchill Downs on 5/24/24), Smile Mon (fourth at Churchill Downs on 6/8/24) and Margoinabubblebath (won at Churchill Downs on 6/6/24).
Date: 08/23/2024
Licensee: Joe Offolter, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Chojo, who finished second at Prairie Meadows on 6/24/24.
Date: 08/22/2024
Licensee: Sergio Ledezma, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Elmer John, who won at Pleasanton on 7/6/24.
Date: 08/21/2024
Licensee: Gabriel Hilardo Rivera, stable employee
Penalty: 6-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 6, 2024; a fine of $75,000. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: For the possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, Buta-Fenil and Dexalan—banned substances—from an event dated 3/27/24.
Date: 08/21/2024
Licensee: Richard Sillaman, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Levisa, who won at Laurel Park on 7/21/24.
Date: 08/21/2024
Licensee: Bruno Tessore, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Shoot Themessenger, who finished second at Laurel Park on 3/16/24.
Date: 08/21/2024
Licensee: Salvador Naranjo, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 22, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2) in a sample taken from Fever, who finished fifth at Los Alamitos on 12/9/23.
Date: 08/20/2024
Licensee: John Shirreffs, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of .5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole—Class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Momad on 7/15/24.
Date: 08/20/2024
Licensee: Isidro Tamayo, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 21, 2024; a fine of $2,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Lilly's Journey on 5/11/24.
Pending ADMC Violations
08/27/2024, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Wear the Crown on 7/26/24.
08/27/2024, Felix Rondan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Drop Um on 7/25/24.
08/27/2024, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Aristocratic, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/16/24.
08/27/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisionally suspended for possessing Diisopropylamine and Clenbuterol, both banned substances.
08/23/2024, Johanna Urietta, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Bareback Fun, who finished second at Thistledown on 7/22/24.
08/22/2024, Aldana Spieth, trainer: Pending vet's list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene and Acepromazine— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Soldieress, who finished fifth at Delaware Park on 7/25/24.
08/22/2024, Adolfo Macias, trainer: Provisional suspension for violating “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility.”
08/22/2024, William Pibble, trainer: Provisional suspension for the alleged possession of Metformin, a banned substance, and for “prohibited association” (with Adolfo Macias).
08/22/2024, Kelly Fernandez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from La Marinera, who finished fifth at Delaware Park on 7/22/24.
08/22/2024, Darien Rodriguez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Megacity, who won at Delaware Park on 6/20/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Colonial Downs
Ruben Silvera – violation date August 22; $500 fine and one-day suspension
Ferndale
McKenzie King – violation date August 23; $150 fine and one-day suspension
Horseshoe Indianapolis
Walter Rodriguez – violation date August 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Albin Jimenez – violation date August 26; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Prairie Meadows
Kenneth Tohill – violation date August 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Remington Park
Luis Quinonez – violation date August 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Saratoga
Jacqualine Davis – violation date August 22; $500 fine and one-day suspension
Brian Hernandez – violation date August 24; $1,250 fine and one-day suspension
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