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, Ohio-based veterinarian Scott Shell has been suspended for two years, fined $25,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in arbitration costs for administering a substance called “Hemo 15” 228 times to 37 horses in his care between May 29, 2023 and Oct. 19, 2023. His suspension started on Jan. 8, 2024
According to the final decision, Shell submitted a letter prior to the May 28 evidentiary hearing outlining three reasons for the administrations: “(i) Hemo 15 is a vitamin supplement for which FDA approval is not required, (ii) Hemo 15 does not explicitly appear on the Banned Substances list, and (iii) in any event, the multiple Administrations should be considered a single transaction.”
The arbitrator ultimately disagreed, writing that, “Dr. Shell's repeated declarations notwithstanding, there is overwhelming evidence that Hemo 15 is not a vitamin but is in fact an unapproved drug. It is properly categorized as an S0 Non-approved Substance.”
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: 06/25/2024
Licensee: Mario Serey Jr., trainer
Penalty: None. Equine Controlled Medication charges–concerning an alleged intra-articular injection within 7 days of a workout–were dropped.
Date: 06/18/2024
Licensee: Scott Shell, veterinarian
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility, beginning on January 8, 2024; a fine of $25,000; payment of $10,000 of HIWU's arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body.
Explainer: For the Administration Hemo 15–a Banned Substance–228 times to 37 Covered Horses between May 29, 2023 and October 19, 2023.
Pending ADMC Violations
06/25/2024, James Nicholson Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Lazaretto, who won at Parx Racing on 5/22/24.
06/25/2024, Glenn Wismer, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Posh Playday on 5/22/24.
06/25/2024, Ricardo Bailey, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Rockstar Ro, who won at Thistledown on 5/20/24.
06/25/2024, Blake Kelly, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Karter's Baby Blue on 5/15/24.
06/25/2024, Michelle Castillo, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Cauteloso, who won at Parx Racing on 3/25/24.
06/21/2024, David Martinez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Awesome Beast, who won at Emerald Downs on 5/26/24.
06/21/2024, Kathryn Davey, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Navel Escort, who won at Gulfstream Park on 5/23/24.
06/21/2024, Anthony Granitz, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Timeless Rose, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 4/13/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Churchill Downs
Adam Beschizza – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Chris Landeros – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Emmanuel Giles – violation date June 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Delaware Park
Alexander Crispin – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Los Alamitos
Welfin Orantes – violation date June 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Edgar Alvarez – violation date June 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Penn National
Jean Carlos Aguilar – violation date June 20; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Thistledown
Victor Fernandez – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Joam Toledo – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Roberto Perez – violation date June 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Alvaro Hernandez – violation date June 24; $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.
New York
Aqueduct
Romero Maragh – violation date June 22; three-day suspension for careless riding
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
