By T. D. Thornton
The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has penalized a second Parx-based trainer this week for multiple violations of the banned substance cobalt salts.
Two separate May 30 “final decision” summaries were posted on the HIWU website for trainer Patricia Farro, suspending her for a total of four years and fining her $50,000 after cobalt salts were detected in two Parx winners she trained earlier this year: Deplane (He's Had Enough) on Feb. 6 and Knockout Win (Winchill) on Feb. 28.
The cumulative penalties were the result of the pair of two-year suspensions/$25,000 fines being combined.
The case summary was listed as “resolved,” but it was unclear at deadline for this story if Farro intends to appeal HIWU's final decision.
Farro's penalties followed those imposed one day earlier upon trainer Monte Gelrod, who was suspended for 18 months and fined $12,500 after his trainee, Ratified (Constitution), tested positive for cobalt salts after winning her fourth race in a row at Parx on Feb. 19 and again after running sixth there on Mar. 4.
Gelrod's lesser penalties for the same banned substance were the result of his having agreed to an “admission of rule violation and acceptance of consequences” settlement with HIWU.
As TDN's Dan Ross reported on Wednesday, cobalt has been proven to stimulate the production of red blood cells. Its use as a performance-enhancer has to do with greater blood cell production helping endurance and decreasing muscle fatigue.
The horses involved have all been disqualified and are in the process of sitting out a six-month ineligibility period.
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