The California Horse Racing Board has filed 10 complaints against eight licensed individuals associated with equine fatalities at Santa Anita Park last winter. None of the complaints alleges the use of illegal medications. The individuals include five veterinarians charged with failing to turn in reports for medication administrations, as well as an owner training without a license and two trainers who delegated training duties.
The complaints came to light during the CHRB's inquiry into the 23 equine fatalities at Santa Anita last winter. The complete Santa Anita Fatalities Report was released Mar.10.
A release from the CHRB outlined the complaints issued Monday:
- Dr. Jennifer Finley failed to turn in Veterinarian Confidential reports for medication administrations on five days for one particular horse, and in a separate complaint, on one day for one particular horse, violations of CHRB Rule 1842 (Veterinarian Report). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 26 hearing date for these complaints.
- Dr. Joseph Dowd failed to turn in Veterinarian Confidential reports for medication administrations on two days for one particular horse, a violation of CHRB Rule 1842 (Veterinarian Report). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 24 hearing date.
- Dr. John Araujo failed to turn in Veterinarian Confidential reports for medication administrations on three days for one particular horse, a violation of CHRB Rule 1842 (Veterinarian Report). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 24 hearing date.
- Dr. Sarah Birch failed to turn in Veterinarian Confidential reports for medication administrations on two days for one particular horse, and in a separate complaint, on one day for one particular horse, violations of CHRB Rule 1842 (Veterinarian Report). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 27 hearing date for these complaints.
- Dr. Karen Valko failed to turn in a Veterinarian Confidential report for medication administration on one day for one particular horse, a violation of CHRB Rule 1842 (Veterinarian Report). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 27 hearing date.
- Mario Garcia, a licensed horse owner, was actively training a horse without a trainer's license, violations of CHRB Rules 1489a4 (Grounds for Denial or Refusal of License [for engaging in] activities for which a license is required) and 1900 (Grounds for Suspension or Revocation). The stewards at Santa Anita have set a May 1 hearing date.
- Trainer Antonio Garcia delegated his training duties to a non-licensed trainer, a violation of CHRB Rule 1894 (Duties of Trainer). The stewards at Santa Anita have set a May 1 hearing date.
- Owner/trainer Oscar Heredia delegated his training duties for a horse he owned to another trainer, while Heredia actively trained another horse, a violationof CHRB Rule 1894 (Duties of Trainer). The stewards at Santa Anita have set an Apr. 27 hearing date.
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