Trainer Fabrice Vermeulen, who was banned for six months by France Galop for alleged ownership record falsifications for a dozen horses in his care, has opted to appeal the decision, the Jour de Galop reported on Thursday. Half of the sentence was suspended for five years.
“I am appealing the decisions because I don't understand them, quite simply…I think it's just [a] misunderstanding,” Vermeulen said.
Vermeulen's assistant Jeremy Para who was banned for a year with six months suspended, has not appealed as of Thursday evening. Para's company, SAS Le Marais, is currently barred from racehorse ownership by France Galop. Le Marais allegedly appeared on Vermeulen's invoices, when he claimed unpaid training fees from one of his owners, Laetitia Louis.
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