Weekly Stewards And Commissions Rulings Dec. 26–Jan. 1

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

Among the key rulings from the last seven days, trainer Jimmy Corrigan has been provisionally suspended as a result of his trainee, Stay Lost–who won at Belterra Park on Oct. 7 last year–testing positive for Methamphetamine.

HISA currently lists Methamphetamine–a common human recreation drug–as a banned substance, which comes with a possible two-year suspension. With banned substances under HISA, responsible parties are subject to a provisional suspension, prior to a full hearing, if the B sample confirms the positive test result from the A sample.

As part of a list of proposed rule changes before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), drugs like Methamphetamine could be re-categorized as human substances of abuse.

If the FTC accepts this rule change, the trainer could still possibly face a provisional suspension for a “human substances of abuse” violation, if the B sample analysis confirms the original positive test result.

“However, the trainer would not be subject to a suspension of more than 60 days (for a first violation) if HIWU accepts that the positive test was more likely than not the result of unintentional transfer or contamination,” wrote a Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit spokesperson.

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: 08/16/2023

Licensee: Robert Leaf Jr., 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 internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medications (Class C)–in a sample taken from Laddie Dance, who won at Delaware Park on 8/16/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 11/29/2023

Licensee: Lacey Gaudet, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Graceful Union. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 11/14/2023

Licensee: Robert Lucas, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Shake N Fries. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 10/21/2023

Licensee: Webster Gayle, 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: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Tankinator, who finished sixth at Delaware Park on 10/21/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 12/08/2023

Licensee: Kevin Martin, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Strings. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 12/06/2023

Licensee: Patricio Venzor (listed on Equibase as owner, listed on the HISA portal as trainer)

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Desert Danger. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 12/03/2023

Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Le Vin, who finished second at Laurel Park on 12/3/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 11/25/2023

Licensee: Jesus Romero, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Diclofenac–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Blake B, who won at Aqueduct on 11/25/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 12/01/2023

Licensee: Steve Miyadi, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Dimethylsulfoxide—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Dorie Miller, who won at Golden Gate on 12/1/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 11/25/2023

Licensee: Jaime Ness, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Ournationonparade. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 11/21/2023

Licensee: David Meridyth, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Omeprazole—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Wild Firewater, who won at Zia Park on 11/21/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 11/17/2023

Licensee: Amador Sanchez, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Soy Una Dama, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/17/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 10/07/2023

Licensee: Jimmy Corrigan, trainer

Penalty: Provisionally suspended

Alleged Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Stay Lost, who won at Belterra Park on 10/7/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Violations of Crop Rule

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Golden Gate Fields

Jose Carlos Montalvo–violation date Dec 26; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Santa Anita

Edwin Maldonado–violation date Dec 26; $250 fine, one-day suspension, one strike over the limit

Jose Verenzuela–violation date Dec 31; $500 fine, one-day suspension, five strikes over the limit

OTHER KEY RULINGS

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

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 12/30/2023

Licensee: Umberto Rispoli, jockey

Penalty: Four-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Jockey Umberto Rispoli, who rode Mo Fox Given in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park on December 29, 2023, is suspended for FOUR (4) racing days (January 6, 7, 12 and 13, 2024) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules-careless riding–second offense in the last sixty (60) days).