By T. D. Thornton
Former trainer Jorge Navarro, who was supposed to report to federal prison for his five-year horse doping sentence Feb. 17, got granted a 30-day extension Thursday because he needs eye surgery.
“While preparing for his impending incarceration, Mr. Navarro had an eye examination which revealed a condition that requires a surgical procedure,” the convicted felon's attorney wrote in a Feb. 3 letter to in United States District Court (Southern District of New York).
“The earliest date that his ophthalmologist could schedule the surgery is Feb. 16, 2022. Mr. Navarro is respectfully requesting a 30-day extension of his surrender date to have the needed surgical procedure and aftercare with his ophthalmologist,” the letter stated.
The letter also stated that federal prosecutors had been advised of the request and did not oppose it.
Navarro's request was granted by the same judge who sentenced him, Mary Kay Vyskocil.
Navarro got the maximum allowable sentence under federal guidelines after pleading guilty to one count in a years-long Thoroughbred drugging conspiracy.
Navarro had admitted that between 2016 and his arrest on Mar. 9, 2020, that “I administered, and, at times, directed [others] working under my direction to administer… drugs to increase performance of racehorses under my custody and care… The drugs [were] blood-building substances, vasodilators, and imported, misbranded bronchodilators, 'bleeder' pills, and SGF-1000,” which is purported to be a customized PED intended to promote tissue repair and increase a horse's endurance.
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