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, two trainers have been issued short suspensions. Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been stepped down for five days and fined $4,000 for breaching the intra-articular injection rule, barring such joint injections within 7 days of a timed and reported workout.
Trainer Fernando Abreu has been suspended for seven-days and fined $1,000 after one of his trainees, Scat Tu Tap, tested positive for two controlled substances: Magnesium Sulfate,
which can be used as a calming agent in horses, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Methylsalicylate.
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: 07/30/2024
Licensee: Fernando Abreu, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 31, 2024; a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Pending medication violation for the use or attempted use of Magnesium sulfate and
Methylsalicylate–Controlled Medications (Class B and C respectively)–during the race period
from an event dated 6/16/24.
Date: 07/30/2024
Licensee: Rodolphe Brisset, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–Controlled
Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Lakota Territory on 6/3/24.
Date: 07/29/2024
Licensee: Juan Carlos Avila, trainer
Penalty: Nothing. Withdrawal of Equine Controlled Medication charge for an alleged intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout.
Date: 07/29/2024
Licensee: Carlos Martin, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000. Admission.
Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Autumn on 6/27/24.
Date: 07/29/2024
Licensee: Jonathan Thomas, trainer
Penalty: 5-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 30, 2024; a fine of $4,000. Admission.
Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Esme on 12/13/23.
Date: 07/25/2024
Licensee: Gerald James, 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 Hercules, who raced, was pulled up and ambulanced off at
Churchill Downs on 6/7/24.
Date: 07/24/2024
Licensee: Aaron Shorter, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Business as Usual on 6/18/24.
Pending ADMC Violations
07/31/2024, Emmanuel Tzortzakis, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from The Gatekeeper, who won at Parx Racing on 6/26/24.
07/31/2024, Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from
Dame Cinco, who won at Aqueduct on 6/21/24.
07/30/2024, Paul Aguirre, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Never Not Once
on 6/24/24.
07/30/2024, Isidro Tamayo, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Lilly's Journey on 5/11/24.
07/26/2024, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone– Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Return
Fire, who won at Delaware Park on 6/20/24.
07/26/2024, Miguel Hernandez, trainer: Pending 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.
07/25/2024, William Pribble, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Moringa, who finished fifth at Churchill Downs on 6/29/24.
07/24/2024, Johnny Collins, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Greatest Dancer on 7/7/24.
07/24/2024, Michael Tomlinson, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Beaver State on 7/6/24.
07/24/2024, Neil Drysdale, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Love Alive on 7/4/24.
07/24/2024, Eric Foster, trainer: Pending intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Publius on 7/3/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Belterra
Angel Serpa – violation date July 25; $500 fine and one-day suspension
Delaware Park
Ederik O. Robles – violation date July 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Hawthorne
Gregory Romero – violation date July 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Thistledown
Jhorma Cespedes – violation date July 25; $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
Jeremy Laprida – violation date July 27; seven-day suspension for careless riding
NEW YORK
Saratoga
Eric Cancel – violation date July 26; three-day suspension for interference
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