By Daniel Ross
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 Steve Klesaris has been suspended for 15 days and fined $1,000 due to his trainee, She's Awesome, testing positive for gabapentin after winning at Aqueduct Nov. 19 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 treatment of partial onset seizures.
Klesaris told the internal adjudication panel that the positive could have been the result of environmental contamination from urine-soaked straw in the track's receiving barn, which he described as “dirty and unkempt.”
NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 08/12/2024
Licensee: Albert Gonzaz, owner
Penalty: Period of Ineligibility of 60 days, beginning on August 13, 2024, or until all relevant purses are repaid, whichever is longer; a fine of $150,000 ($130,000 fine will be waived if all purses are repaid in a timely manner). Final decision by internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Refusal/failure to cooperate promptly and completely with HISA/HIWU under the ADMC Program Rules related to the horses Big Splash, Catbernay, Bella Renella, Keep Your Coil, Chollima, Wegonahavagoodtime, and American Cat.
Date: 08/12/2024
Licensee: Monty Meier, 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. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Icy Mischief, who won at Pleasanton on 7/5/24.
Date: 08/12/2024
Licensee: Raymond Handal, 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. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from He Has it All, who finished second at Aqueduct on 5/18/24.
Date: 08/09/2024
Licensee: Miguel Hernandez, 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. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Frisco Frills, who won at Emerald Downs on 6/16/24.
Date: 08/07/2024
Licensee: Johnny Collins, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000.
Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Greatest Dancer on 7/7/24.
Date: 08/07/2024
Licensee: Paul McEntee, 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. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cetirizine—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Thirsty Accountant, who finished second at Belterra Park on 6/5/24.
Date: 08/07/2024
Licensee: Steve Klesaris, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on August 8, 2024; 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. Final decision internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from She's Awesome, who won at Aqueduct on 11/9/23.
Date: 08/07/2024
Licensee: Peter Miller, 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. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from House of Magic, who finished second at Del Mar on 11/23/23.
Pending ADMC Violations
08/13/2024, Mark Glatt, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mi Hermano Ramon on 6/24/24.
08/13/2024, William Downing, trainer: Provisionally suspended for a pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone—both banned substances—in a sample taken from Wootdareitis on 5/20/24.
08/12/2024, Ralph D'Alessandro, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Production Credit, who won at Finger Lakes on 6/12/24.
08/09/2024, Angel Sanchez Pinero, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Camphor— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Brother Showtyme on 7/18/24.
08/09/2024, Donaciano Gonzalez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Full Time Strutin, who finished third at Thistledown on 7/4/24.
08/09/2024, Brittany Russell, trainer: Pending vents' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from L Street Lady on 6/17/24.
08/08/2024, Tim Abraham, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Big Cheddar, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 7/6/24.
08/08/2024, Tim Abraham, trainer: Pending vents' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Big Cheddar, who finished second at Los Alamitos on 7/6/24.
08/08/2024, Sergio Ledezma, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Elmer John, who won at Pleasanton on 7/6/24.
08/08/2024, Jonathan Thomas, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mouffy, who won the Perfect Sting Stakes at Aqueduct on 7/4/24.
08/08/2024, Dan Ward, trainer: Pending vents' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone— Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Kobla Mas on 7/4/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Belterra
Douglas Lafrance – violation date August 9; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Delaware Park
Anthony Radcliffe – violation date August 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Del Mar
Mario Gutierrez – violation date August 8; $500 fine and one-day suspension
Juan Hernandez – violation date August 9; $500 fine and one-day suspension
Armando Aguilar – violation date August 10; $300 fine and one-day suspension
Thistledown
Luis Gonzalez – violation date August 10; $250 fine and one-day suspension
The TDN also 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
Del Mar
Reylu Gutierrez – violation date August 11; three-day suspension for careless riding
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