weekly rulings

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, several provisional suspensions have been handed out in cases pending a formal hearing. This includes trainers Frederico Villafranco and Diana Morici, who have been issued provisional suspensions for separate alleged methamphetamine positives. Trainer Francisco Ramos remains provisionally suspended with two additional alleged clenbuterol positives to go with four prior pending clenbuterol cases. Five of these cases--including the two most recent--were from out-of-competition tests. The other...

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 Monte Gelrod has been suspended for 18 months and fined $12,500 after his trainee, Ratified, tested positive for cobalt salts after winning at Parx Racing on Feb. 19. Gelrod's suspension started Apr. 17. HISA classifies cobalt salts as a banned substance. Cobalt has been proven to stimulate the production of red blood cells (erythropoiesis) which explains why some have turned to it as a...

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 Silvino Ramirez was suspended for 30-days and fined $2,500 after his trainee, Perfect Day, tested positive for an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) when finishing fifth at Parx Racing on April 17. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading—otherwise known as milkshaking—which can neutralize the buildup of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance. Veterinarian Donald McCrosky was also suspended 30-days for violating the terms of a prior suspension. HIWU's publicly-posted...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) -elated rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Pavel Matejka has been suspended seven days for four separate cannabidiol (CBD) positives. The four cases occurred between Feb. 17 and Mar. 15. Under HISA, CBD is classified a Class B controlled substance. The massive proliferation in CBD products for humans has spilled over into the equine world. The purported benefits from CBD use in horses include treatment of inflammation, ulcers, laminitis, colic,...

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 Candelario Villamar has been suspended 15-days and fined $1,000 after his trainee, Olivia's Choice, tested positive for capsaicin when finishing third at Turf Paradise on Feb. 26. A Class B controlled medication under HISA, capsaicin is the active ingredient in chilli peppers causing burning and irritation, and can be found in topical analgesics. Trainer Valorie Lund has been banned seven days and fined...

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 Lorenzo Ruiz was issued a combined 7-year suspension and charged a total of $95,000 in fines for three separate post-race positives for Diisopropylamine, a banned substance under HISA. The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) classifies Diisopropylamine as a vasodilator, which is a substance that dilates the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely through them. Diisopropylamine is also found in...

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, an independent arbitration panel suspended trainer Jason DaCosta for 15 days (starting on Mar. 22) and fined him $1,000 after his trainee, Poker Partner, tested positive for Gabapentin when winning at Presque Isle Downs on July 18 last year. Gabapentin is a class B controlled medication under HISA that is an FDA human-approved anticonvulsant used to treat conditions like epilepsy, postherpetic neuralgia and in the...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this most recent set of rulings, by far the most portentous was the 15-year ban doled out to trainer Milton Pineda, who trained seven different horses that tested positive post-race for the banned substance, Diisopropylamine, between June 2 and July 4 last year. The seven horses started at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita. Pineda was also accused of program training during the period of his provisional suspension....

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 Daniel Franko has been suspended seven days after his trainee, Misty's Cat, tested positive for caffeine, when winning at Golden Gate Fields on Dec. 1 last year. He was also fined $1,000. Caffeine is a Class B controlled substance under HISA. The case was resolved without a hearing.   NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through...

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 Gerald Brooks has been suspended seven days for a post-race gabapentin positive dating from Sept. 4. The case was resolved without a hearing. Gabapentin is a Class B controlled drug under HISA, and used as an anti-seizure medicine in humans. Brooks was cited in January for a post-race phenylbutazone positive.   NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings"...

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 Jonathan Wong has been suspended for two years and fined $25,000 for a post-race metformin positive from last June. Wong told the TDN he has appealed the ruling which could now go before the Federal Trade Commission, head to federal court, or both. He also said that he would seek a temporary injunction against the ban. Trainer Kari Craddock was issued a seven-day suspension...

   Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.   NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) "pending" and "resolved" cases portals.   Resolved ADMC Violations   Date: 11/25/2023 Licensee: Jesus Romero, 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...