Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Aug. 29 – Sept. 4

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

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: 09/04/2024

Licensee: Johanna Urieta, 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 Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Bareback Fun, who finished second at Thistledown on 7/22/24.

Date: 09/03/2024

Licensee: Kelly Fernandez, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on September 4, 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 $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: 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.

Date: 08/30/2024

Licensee: Darien Rodriguez, trainer

Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 31, 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 $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: 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.

Date: 08/30/2024

Licensee: Thomas Amoss, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000. Admission.

Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Ba Dee Yah on 6/26/24.

Date: 08/29/2024

Licensee: Tim Abraham, 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 Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Big Cheddar, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 7/6/24.

Pending ADMC Violations

08/30/2024, Paul Valery, trainer: Provisional suspension for multiple medication violations for the use or attempted use of two banned substances—Gamma Aminobutyric Acid and Prasterone—as well as four controlled substances, Hemo Cease Xtreme, Blitz, Adenosine Tri-Phosphate and Lactanase. The horse involved is Quincy Café, who finished fourth at Gulfstream Park on 1/7/24.

08/30/2024, Paul Valery, trainer: Provisional suspension for two pending possession cases for two different substances containing Prasterone, on an event dated 5/14/24.

Note: Valery was already serving a provisional suspension for prior pending medication violations.

09/04/2024, Bruce Brown, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Our Reward, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 7/30/24.

Violations of Crop Rule

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

Delaware Park

Gregorio Rivera – violation date August 29; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Del Mar

Kyle Frey – violation date August 30; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Frank Alvarado – violation date August 31; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Horseshoe Indianapolis

Adam Beschizza – violation date Sept 3; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Presque Isle Downs

Brooke Bays – violation date Sept 2; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Carlos Camilo – violation date Sept 3; $500 fine, no other information available

Thistledown

Erik Barbaran – violation date Sept 2; $250 fine and one-day suspension

The TDN also 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.

California

Del Mar

Date: 08/29/2024

Licensee: Frank Roberts, owner

Penalty: Owner Frank Roberts, having failed to respond to written notice to appear before the Board of Stewards at Del Mar Race Track on August 25, 2024, is suspended for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1547 (Failure to Appear), pending an appearance at a hearing before the Board of Stewards to answer to charges alleging violation of CHRB rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility $500.00 to K C Horse Transport). Suspension to commence September 5, 2024.

New York

Saratoga

Frankie Dettori – violation date August 30; Three-day suspension for careless riding, stay granted on appeal