By Dan Ross
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.
California
Track: Del Mar
Date: 08/10/2023
Licensee: Brian Koriner
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Out-of-competition medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Brian Koriner, who worked out the horse Resilient at Santa Anita Park May 18, 2023, is fined $1,000.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations – Expires 2/10/24 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1843.1 (b) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Methocarbamol [Class 4] Second Offense in the last 365 days).
Track: Del Mar
Date: 08/11/2023
Licensee: Lisa Bernard, trainer
Penalty: Suspended license, $1,000 fine
Violation: Failure to appear for steward hearing
Explainer: Trainer Lisa Bernard, having failed to respond to written notice, to appear for a formal appeal hearing before the Board of Stewards at Del Mar Racetrack on August 8th, 2023, remains suspended as ordered in LATS Ruling #54 dated April 28th, 2023, issued at Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Meet. Furthermore, Lisa M. Bernard is fined $1,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1840 (Veterinary Practices and Treatments Restricted – non-prescribed Acepromazine) and Rule #1842.5 (Trainer to Maintain Medication Treatment Records) at San Luis Rey Downs. Prior to reinstatement of licenses Ms. Bernard is required to participate in a Fitness for License Hearing in addition to payment of fine.
NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
This does not include the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Violations of Crop Rule
Belterra Park
Isaias Florentino Ayala – violation date Aug 9; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling
William Vernon Bush – violation date Aug 10; No records of the ruling
William Vernon Bush – violation date Aug 10; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling
Del Mar
Kent Desormeaux – violation date Aug 12; $692.50 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Horseshoe Indianapolis
Joe Ramos – violation date Aug 10; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling
Penn National
Anthony Salgado – violation date Aug 8; $250 fine but no further records of the ruling
Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 07/22/2023
Licensee: Dick Clark, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Kissed a Cadet, who won at Prairie Meadows on 7/22/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/20/2023
Licensee: Randy Preston, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Fly Home, who won at Belterra Park on 7/20/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/08/2023
Licensee: Jim Lewis, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Hughie's Holiday, who won at Ruidoso Downs on 7/8/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/08/2023
Licensee: Sergio Alvarez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mischief Mame, who finished third at Emerald Downs on 7/8/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/07/2023
Licensee: Ramon Rechy, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Night Livin, who won at Horseshoe Indianapolis on 7/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/04/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Wegonahaveagood, who won at Los Alamitos on 7/4/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/02/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Keep Your Coil, who won at Los Alamitos on 7/2/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 07/01/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Catbernay, who won at Los Alamitos on 7/1/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 06/25/2023
Licensee: Benjamin Feliciano Jr., trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone and Methocarbamol–both Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Orville Street. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 06/28/2023
Licensee: Tina Chamberlin, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Alleged Violation: For the presence of Methocarbamol–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Rosebud Ryde. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
Date: 06/8/2023
Licensee: Climaco Galindo-Torres, 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.
Alleged Violation: For the presence of Salicylic Acid–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Delaney's Grace who finished eighth at Belterra Park on 6/8/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.
Date: 06/02/2023
Licensee: Bernard Dunham, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility beginning on August 5, 2023; 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.
Alleged Violation: For the presence of Albuterol–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Afandi, who finished second at Pimlico on 6/2/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.
Date: 06/02/2023
Licensee: Jeffrey Poole, trainer
Penalty: 22-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person beginning on June 13, 2023; a fine of $10,000; and payment of $8,000 in arbitration costs.
Alleged Violation: Possession of a Banned Substance, Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). Rule 3214(a): “Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations Involving Banned Substances or Banned Methods. The following acts and omissions constitute Anti-Doping Rule Violations by the Covered Person(s) in question: (a) Possession of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method, unless there is compelling justification for such Possession.”
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