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: Santa Anita
Date: 06/16/2023
Licensee: Ian Kruljac, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Ian Kruljac, who started the horse Closeau, that finished third in the seventh race on April 8, 2023, at Santa Anita Park is fined $1,000.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires 6/16/24) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887(a) (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843(a)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances -Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Ian Kruljac's second offense in 365 days. Mr. Kruljac has accumulated one (1) MMV point.
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 06/16/2023
Licensee: Jeff Mullins, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Out-of-competition Medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Jeff Mullins, who worked the horse Numero Dix for removal from the Veterinarian's List on April 5, 2023, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $1,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843.4(a) (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires June 16, 2024) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h)(i) (Veterinarian's List), #1844(d)(5) (Authorized Medication), #1843(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Jeff Mullins second offense in 365 days. Mr. Mullins has accumulated two and a half (2 1/2) MMV points.
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 06/18/2023
Licensee: Armando Aguilar, apprentice jockey
Penalty: Four-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Armando Aguilar, who rode Warrior's Moon in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on June 17, 2023, is suspended for 4 racing days (June 25, July 1, 2, and 3, 2023) for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from fourth to fifth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding), second offense in last sixty days.
Florida
The following was taken from the ARCI's “recent rulings” webpage.
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/09/2023
Licensee: David Fisher, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medications violation
Explainer: STIPULATION AND CONSENT ORDER # 2023-008661 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = BETAMETHASONE. “LOVIN MAKES CENTS” *FINE PAID TO GSP/BOR; PURSE RETURNED TO GSP*
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/9/2023
Licensee: Efren Loza, trainer
Penalty: Fifteen-day suspension, $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: FINAL ORDER # 2022-042344 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = 1-Hydroxyethyl Promazine Sulfoxide. “STAR JUANCHO” $500 Fine due 7/9/23; 15 day suspension – 7/10/23 – through and including 7/25/23; Loss of Purse.
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/06/2023
Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-057680 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “IRONY” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/06/2023
Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-004641 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “LOVE HER LOTS” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/06/2023
Licensee: Kelsey Danner, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-002335 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = ALBUTEROL. “VIBURNUM” $500 FINE DUE 6/21/23
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/06/2023
Licensee: Jose Garoffalo, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-045777 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “MR. TITO'S” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/06/2023
Licensee: Jose Garoffalo, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medications violation
Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-047256 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “VINNIE VAN GO” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23
Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 05/31/2023
Licensee: Reynaldo Yanez, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: STEWARDS RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-018909 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = 5-HYDROXYDANTROLENE. “HEIR TO THE ROAR”
New York
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 06/17/2023
Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Irad Ortiz is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days June 25th 2023, June 30th 2023, July 1st 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the third race at Belmont park on June 11th 2023.
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
Delaware Park
Darwin Rodriguez – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Andry Gabriel Blanco – violation date June 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Finger Lakes
Jose Alberto Baez – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Hawthorne
Alexis Centeno – violation date June 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Thistledown
Víctor Manuel Severino – violation date June 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over the limit
Yuri Sanez Yaranga – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “excess” strikes
Shoeing Violations
Belmont Park
Alan Bedard, trainer – $500 fine for not having his horse “In my Opinion” properly shod for the running of race 2 at Belmont Park on 06/15/2023 causing a late scratch.
Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 05/24/2023
Licensee: Mario Dominguez
Penalty: Provisional suspension
Violation: Presence of a banned substance in a test
Explainer: Rule 3212, Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Cobalt.
Racetrack Safety Violations
Date: 06/17/2023
Licensee: Vladimir Cerin, trainer
Penalty: Seven-day suspension, $2,500 fine
Violation: Use of shockwave therapy too close to workout
Explainer: Trainer Vladimir Cerin, who treated the horse Poppy's Halo with ESWT on 12/13/2022, at Santa Anita Park, which is within 30 days prior to a workout is suspended SEVEN (7) days and fined $2,500 for violation of HISA Rule 2272 (3) (Shockwave Therapy). The suspension shall be from June 23, 2023, through June 29, 2023. During the term of the suspension, all licenses and license privileges of Vladimir Cerin are suspended and pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1528 (Jurisdiction of Stewards to Suspend or Fine) and HISA Rule 8200 (b)(2) through (12) (Schedule of Sanctions For Violations) Vladimir Cerin is denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.
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