Suspension

Jockey Flavien Prat will sit out next Wednesday through Friday at Saratoga Race Course after opting not to appeal a three-day "careless riding" suspension incurred there in race eight on July 14. Prat was aboard 9-year-old Happy Farm (Ghostzapper) in a $50,000 claiming sprint. He got forced out soon after the six-furlong start, but settled in the seven path. Prat guided the gelding closer to the rail entering the turn, then cut from the three path down to the fence in front of Thinkaboutit (Uncaptured), who took up sharply while...

Attorney Alan Pincus Discusses HIWU Suspensions on the TDN Writers' Room.

Jockey Raul E. Mena is appealing a 15-day suspension and $1,000 fine imposed by the Delaware Park stewards after a "failure to give best effort" ruling was lodged against him following a last-place finish aboard a 1-for-19 filly who trailed at every call in a $5,000 NW2L claiming sprint June 28. Sarah Crane, the executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC), confirmed in an email that Mena, 31, has been granted a stay of his penalties until a Sept. 19 hearing. But Crane declined an opportunity to address...

Churchill Downs Incorporated is extending the suspension of Bob Baffert through calendar year 2024 based on what Churchill Downs called "continued concerns regarding the threat to the safety and integrity of racing he poses to CDI-owned racetracks." Churchill released the following statement: "Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false narrative concerning the failed drug test of Medina Spirit at the 147th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in accordance with Kentucky law and regulations. Prior to that race, Mr. Baffert signed an agreement...

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...

Frankie Dettori has appealed his nine-day suspension he earned for interference during the first day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Aboard King Charles and Queen Camilla's Saga (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for John and Thady Gosden in the Listed Wolferton S., he was found guilty of careless riding by the Ascot stewards. The suspension was due to run from July 4-12, and would result in Dettori missing a ride on Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Coral-Eclipse on July 8. "I put my appeal in yesterday,...

Robertino Diodoro, currently fifth for wins in this year's North American trainer standings, has been suspended 30 days and fined $1,000 after a colt under his care, Aristocracy (Tapit), tested positive for elevated total carbon dioxide (TCO2) in the blood after finishing sixth in the Apr. 22 $200,000 Bath House Row S. at Oaklawn Park. According to two rulings issued by the Arkansas Racing Commission on Monday, May 15, Aristocracy is disqualified from purse winnings, and Diodoro will have 15 days of his suspension stayed "on the condition that no...

French National Hunt trainer and former champion jump jockey David Cottin faces a 12-month suspension as both trainer and owner after failing to observe the correct withdrawal times in the use of corticosteroids on four horses in his stable. A veterinary officer from France's National Federation of Horseracing carried out an inspection at Cottin's yard in Lamorlaye, near Chantilly, on December 3, which revealed "several violations", according to a statement released by France Galop on Monday. Of particular concern was the evidence of intra-articular (joint) injections, as well as injections...

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr., the 63-year-old GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer whose long and controversial history of racing infractions culminated in a 10-year license revocation in New York for a period that concluded last month, on Monday was granted approval for a trainer's license by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The announcement was read into the record during the regularly scheduled Feb. 27 NYSGC meeting without any commentary by commissioners. "The former New York State Racing and Wagering Board revoked the Thoroughbred trainer's license of Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.,...

Oisin Murphy made a winning return to race-riding at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, after which he described his actions that led to a 14-month ban for alcohol and Covid breaches as "silly" and admitted to "many, many errors". The three-time champion jockey had just the one ride on the card, the Mick Appleby-trained Jupiter Express, and after partnering that horse to victory, he opened up about his time away from the saddle.  He told Racing TV about his behavior that led to a hefty ban, "Realistically, very silly. I made...

Trainer Eric Reed has been penalized with a five-day suspension and a $1,000 fine for a phenylbutazone positive in a $15,000 claiming winner last month at Turfway Park. According to a Feb. 1 Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) stewards' ruling, the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer waived his right to a hearing and will serve his days Feb. 10-14 without lodging an appeal. The ruling stated that the offense was Reed's second for a Class C positive within the past year. The KHRC classifies drugs on an A (most severe)...

According to information obtained by Jour de Galop, France's Gaming Police mailed a letter to France Galop earlier this week requesting that suspended jockey Christophe Soumillon's licence be withdrawn indefinitely or that his ban be lengthened, the paper writes in its Sunday edition. Soumillion was suspended for two months after elbowing fellow jockey Rossa Ryan out of the saddle during the running of the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon on Sept. 30. "The fall (of Rossa Ryan) was not accidental, but was caused by Christophe Soumillon. This behavior is voluntary and...