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, trainer Jim Lewis was suspended two years and fined a total of $20,000 (including the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit's arbitration costs), after his trainee Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning at Ruidoso Downs on July 8 last year.
Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator with known performance enhancing properties. Clenbuterol will typically be detectable in the blood for about three to four days after administration, and between 10 to 17 days after administration in urine. Experts say that hair tests can show the presence of the substance up to six months after it was given to a horse.
Lewis claimed that he had never administered clenbuterol to Hughie's Holiday, and had waited 50 days after receiving the horse in his barn to race him out of an abundance of caution, having received no medical records for the horse from prior connections. No hair test was conducted.
A HIWU arbitration panel, however, dismissed Lewis's claim, after an evidentiary hearing on Apr. 18.
“Dr. Heather Knych, an expert in equine pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, will testify that it is highly unlikely that the Clenbuterol detected in Hughie's Holiday's blood samples collected on July 8 could have been caused by the administration of Clenbuterol prior to May 21, 2023,” the arbitrator wrote in a final decision.
Lewis's suspension started on Sept. 22 last year.
NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “1rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 06/12/2024
Licensee: Jim Lewis, trainer
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on September 22, 2023; 14-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on July 8, 2023; 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 $15,000; payment of $5,000 of HIWU's arbitration costs. Final decision by arbitral body.
Explainer: For the presence of Clenbuterol– banned substance–in a sample taken from Hughie's Holiday, who won at Ruidoso Downs on 7/8/23.
Date: 06/17/2024
Licensee: Hugo Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $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 Code Runner, who finished fifth at Tampa Bay Downs on 5/14/24.
Date: 06/17/2024
Licensee: Justin Rivera, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Administration of electrolytes other than by “free choice” within 24 hours prior to Post-Time for Sig, who was scratched late at Aqueduct on 5/324.
Date: 06/18/2024
Licensee: Michael Hewitt, trainer
Penalty: None. Equine Controlled Medication charges withdrawn (B Sample Not Confirmed)
Date: 06/18/2024
Licensee: Henry Guillory, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse, Xcaret.
Date: 06/18/2024
Licensee: Rory Huston, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Joy's Pride on 5/10/24.
Pending ADMC Violations
06/12/2024, Rodolphe Brisset, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Royal Spa, who finished second in the American Beauty Stakes on 2/3/24.
06/12/2024, Robert Medina, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Forge in Fire, who won at Turfway Park on 2/21/24.
06/12/2024, Ricardo Bailey, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mutiny, who won at Thistledown on 5/8/24.
06/13/2024, Patrick Reynolds, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Uncle Water Flow, who won at Thistledown on 5/8/24.
06/14/2024, Mario Serey Jr., trainer: Pending violation for intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse, Succeed.
06/17/2024, Joseph Davis, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Vino Caldo on 5/22/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Delaware Park:
Andres Chavez–violation date June 12; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Jose Batista–violation date June 13; $500 fine and three-day suspension
Kirsten Swan–violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Finger Lakes:
Jeremias Flores–violation date June 12; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Penn National
Jose Torrealba–violation date June 12; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Jerry Villegas-Serrano–violation date June 12; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Hawthorne:
Alexis Centeno–violation date June 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Prairie Meadows:
Glenn Corbett–violation date June 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Ramsey Howard Zimmerman–violation date June 15; $880 fine and three-day suspension
Santa Anita:
Diego Herrera–violation date June 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension
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