Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 5-11

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 Adolfo Macias has been suspended 18-months and fined $12,500 for the possession of levothyroxine, a banned substance under HISA.

Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat ailments like hypothyroidism. Due to its metabolic properties, levothyroxine is believed to aid recovery in performance horses and help weight loss. There is also a possible link between levothyroxine and equine sudden cardiac death.

There is currently no detailed explanation of Macias's ruling on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) website. His suspension began on Nov. 2, 2023.

Chris Hartman has also been suspended 15-days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, Necker Island, tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau S. at Ellis Park nearly a year ago. Acepromazine is a sedative ubiquitously used across U.S. backstretches. His suspension began on June 6.

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: 06/05/2024
Licensee: Chris Allen Hartman, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 6, 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. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Necker Island who won the Mighty Beau S. at Ellis Park on 6/18/23.

Date: 06/05/2024
Licensee: Eric Foster, 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: For the presence of Cetirizine–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from In Color who was third at Churchill Downs on 5/2/23.

Date: 06/06/2024
Licensee: Juan Carlos Perez, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on June 7, 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: For the presence of Caffeine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Ramblin Chrome who won at Mahoning Valley on 1/18/23.

Date: 06/10/2024
Licensee: Adolfo Macias, trainer
Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 2, 2023; a fine of $12,500. Admission.  
Explainer: For the possession of Levothyroxine–a banned substance–from an event dated 9/20/23. There is currently no detailed explanation of the ruling on the HIWU website.

Pending ADMC Violations
06/07/2024, Gabriel Hilardo Rivera, trainer: Provisional suspension for the possession of Pitcher Plant Extract, Buta-Fenil and Dexalan–banned substances–from an event dated 3/27/24.
06/10/2024, Hugo Rodriguez, trainer: Pending 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.
06/11/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisional suspension for an out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Jim's River Runner on 5/8/24.

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

Hawthorne
Emmanuel Giles – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Emmanuel Giles – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Horseshoe Indianapolis
Gregory Romero – violation date June 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Santa Anita
Jose Verenzuela – violation date June 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, one strike over limit
Diego Herrera – violation date June 9; $250 fine and one-day suspension, one strike over limit

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.

New York
Aqueduct
Javier Castellano – violation date June 9; three-day suspension for careless riding (stayed on appeal)