This past week has seen a series of rulings under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), with several trainers facing provisional suspensions as cases proceed to formal hearings. Notably, trainers Frederico Villafranco and Diana Morici have been provisionally suspended due to alleged methamphetamine positives. Francisco Ramos continues to be under provisional suspension, facing additional alleged clenbuterol positives that bring his total pending clenbuterol cases to six, with five stemming from out-of-competition tests.
The controversial banned substance metformin also continues to feature prominently in HISA’s drug enforcement efforts, with two trainers, Greg Foley and James Lawrence II, facing alleged positives that are currently pending a formal hearing. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities in regulating certain substances within the sport.
New HISA/HIWU Stewards Rulings
The following rulings have been reported through HISA’s rulings portal and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) pending and resolved cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
On June 27, 2024, trainer Ricardo Bailey received a final decision from HIWU for a medication violation involving Dexamethasone (Controlled Medication, Class C) in a sample from Mutiny, a horse he trained that won at Thistledown on May 8, 2024. The penalty included disqualification of the horse’s race results, forfeiture of purses, a $500 fine, and 1.5 Penalty Points. Trainer Patrick Reynolds also faced a similar medication violation for Phenylbutazone (Controlled Medication, Class C) in a sample from Uncle Water Flow, who won at Parx on May 8, 2024. His penalty included disqualification, purse forfeiture, a $500 fine, and 1.5 Penalty Points. Michael Hewitt, another trainer, had an alleged methamphetamine positive withdrawn after the B sample did not confirm the A sample.
Joseph Davis was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points on June 28, 2024, for a vets’ list medication violation involving Dexamethasone (Controlled Medication, Class C) in a sample taken from Vino Caldo on May 22, 2024. Anthony Granitz, on July 1, 2024, admitted to a medication violation for Dantrolene (Controlled Medication, Class C) in a sample from Timeless Rose, who finished third at Tampa Bay on April 13, 2024. This resulted in disqualification, purse forfeiture, a $500 fine, and 1.5 Penalty Points. Michelle Castillo received a written reprimand and disqualification for a medication violation involving Caffeine (Controlled Medication, Class B) in a sample from Cauteloso, who won at Parx Racing on March 25, 2024. Mark Glatt received a written reprimand for an alleged vets’ list medication violation for Caffeine. Herold A Simms was fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for an intra-articular injection within seven days of a timed and reported workout on the horse Nature Boy.
Pending ADMC Violations
As of June 26, 2024, Andy Mathis is under a pending vets’ list medication violation for Acepromazine (Controlled Medication, Class B) from a sample taken from Lookin at Sweetie. On June 27, 2024, Diane Morici received a provisional suspension for a methamphetamine violation concerning Gambling Tzar, and Francisco Ramos received two provisional suspensions for clenbuterol violations in out-of-competition samples from Total Smokeshow and Tequila Flats.
James Lawrence II and Gregory Foley are facing pending medication violations for Metformin, a banned substance, from samples taken from Cherished Horse and Camaro Z, respectively. Lisa Reed and Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon have pending violations for Betamethasone and Glycopyrrolate, respectively. Dalton Dieter faces multiple pending violations for Cannabidiol (CBD), a Controlled Medication (Class B), from various horses and testing scenarios. Brittany Vandenberg has two pending violations for Phenylbutazone (Controlled Medication, Class C) from samples taken from Maqamat and Khozan’s Success. On July 3, 2024, Frederico Villafranco received a provisional suspension for a methamphetamine violation concerning Asset Basis, and Juan Arriagada and Charles Essex have pending violations for Acepromazine.
Violations of Crop Rule
HISA’s whip use limit is set at six strikes during a race. Recent violations include:
- Los Alamitos: Cesar Ortega received a $250 fine and a one-day suspension on June 29.
- Monmouth Park: Jorge Vargas received a $500 fine and a three-day suspension on June 28.
- Prairie Meadows: Kenneth Sean Tohill received a $250 fine, a $13,750 purse forfeit, and a one-day suspension on June 28.
- Thistledown: Braxton S. Carmouche received a $250 fine and a $624 purse forfeit on July 1.
Rulings in Major Racing Jurisdictions
California
Los Alamitos
On June 30, 2024, trainer Peter Miller received an official warning for failing to produce 30-day veterinarian records for the horse Sir Pistolero, which raced on May 11, 2024, at Santa Anita Park.
New York
Aqueduct
On June 28, 2024, trainer George Weaver was fined $1,000 for failing to tend to business in a professional manner, necessitating a scratch in the second race. Additionally, jockey Abnel Bocachica received a three-day suspension for careless riding on June 27.
