Jonathan Wong

Letter to the Editor: Actions Detrimental

by Brent J. Malmstrom I am the owner of a small stable with 35 horses in training split between multiple states. I wanted to share my first-hand experience on what happens when your trainer has been provisionally suspended, as well as my own thoughts on what is happening within our beloved industry. HISA/HIWU testing and enforcement went live roughly 60 days ago. Every week, there is news in the trade publications of trainers who have been provisionally suspended or have had an unfavorable test result. The rules continue to be...

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Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings, June 27-July 3

Every week, the TDN 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. The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country. New York Track: Belmont Park Date: 06/27/2023 Licensee: Manuel Franco, jockey Penalty:...

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McLean Robertson Latest Trainer To Be Suspended By HIWU

McLean Robertson, a top trainer in the Midwest whose accomplishments include a pair of training titles at Canterbury Park, has been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) after a horse he trained allegedly tested positive for Altrenogest. The ruling was posted to the HIWU website Monday. It's been a busy few days for HIWU. On Saturday, it was reported on the HIWU website that New York-based trainer Raymond Handal has been provisionally suspended after an alleged positive for Zeranol. On Sunday, the website included a ruling...

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Wong Suspended for Metformin; `Our Game Has Been Hijacked' Says Attorney

by Sue Finley and Stefanie Grimm The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has provisionally suspended trainer Jonathan Wong after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance last month. Heaven and Earth (Gormley) broke her maiden at Indiana Grand June 1 but subsequently tested positive for the prescription drug metformin, a type 2 diabetes treatment. Wong was notified that his horses will need to be moved to the care of another trainer and potentially faces up to a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine. While metformin is a...

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Espinoza, Wong Top Recently Concluded Golden Gate Winter/Spring Meet

Jockey Assael Espinoza and trainer Jonathan Wong were leaders in their respective divisions at the recently concluded 2023 Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields. Assael Espinoza won the most races out of any rider with 93 trips to the winner's circle from 419 starts, equating to a 22%-win rate while his mounts finished in-the-money 56% of the time. "I'm very thankful for all the owners and trainers who have given me an opportunity to ride their horses," said Espinoza. "Ever since I got to Golden Gate, people have been really...

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NorCal Trainers Clean Up at Del Mar

Edited Release from Del Mar It has been a meet to remember for several Northern California trainers who like to summer at Del Mar, as well as one trainer who came to Southern California from Northern California and stayed. Jonathan Wong rattled off seven wins in a week last month at Del Mar, winning 'Trainer of the Week' honors and climbing into the Top 10 in the trainer standings. He never left. Going into Sunday's final day of the Del Mar summer meet, Wong had notched 13 victories, good for...

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Roman, Wong, Tommy Town Tops at Golden Gate

Jockey Evin Roman, trainer Jonathan Wong and Tommy Town Thoroughbreds were the leading jockey, trainer and owner, respectively, at the Golden Gate Fields winter/spring meet that wrapped up Sunday, June 12. The 24-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Roman rode 87 winners over the course of the meet, four better than Pedro Terro, with purse earnings of $1.745,152. Earlier in his career, Roman won five riding titles in Southern California and was the Eclipse champion apprentice of 2017. Wong won his fifth consecutive training title, with 71 winners from 349 starters...

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Weekly Rulings: March 29-April 4

Every week, the TDN 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. CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 04/02/2022 Licensee: Bob Baffert, trainer Penalty: Ninety-day suspension Violation: Reciprocity of out-of-state medication violation penalty Explainer: Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1484 (Evidence of Unfitness for License) the following ruling is issued in reciprocity after...

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Monday's Insights: Pricey Fillies Square Off at Santa Anita

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-SA, $61k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2fT, 6:14p.m. LNJ Foxwoods' SPEEDCUBER (War Front), a $525,000 KEENOV weanling, makes her debut for trainer Richard Baltas. She is a daughter of Drifting Cube (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), a full-sister to multiple group winner Rubick (Aus). Also debuting is Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' What a Feeling (Medaglia d'Oro). The $700,000 KEESEP yearling is trained by Jonathan Wong, who also saddles fellow Tommy Town firster The Pharoah's Girl (American Pharoah), a $330,000 KEESEP yearling purchase. TJCIS PPs

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Frey, Wong, Irvin Racing Win Golden Gate Titles
Frey, Wong, Irvin Racing Win Golden Gate Titles

Golden Gate Fields closed out its six-week summer meet with titles going to jockey Kyle Frey, trainer Jonathan Wong, and owner Irvin Racing Stable. Frey won 47 races from 205 mounts for a 23% win rate with $803,264 in earnings. Wong, who was earning his ninth training title, had 40 winners from 159 starters (25%) and $764,062 in purse earnings. Betty and Diane Irvin, a mother-daughter team who use the nom de course of Irvin Racing Stable, brought home six wins and were in the money with 71% of their...

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