by Jeff Lowe

Officials from the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority searched trainer Patrick Biancone’s barns at Keeneland Race Course on June 22.

John Veitch, the authority’s chief steward, refused to comment on the reason for the search or whether any prohibited items were found.

“Since it’s an open investigation, I can’t comment on anything,” Veitch said.

Biancone, who has about 75 horses at Keeneland, also declined to comment on Tuesday.

Biancone, 55, began training in the United States in 2000 after he was suspended for ten months in Hong Kong for drug positives in two horses. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also fined him in 1997 after a banned substance was found in more than 20 of his horses. 

The California Horse Racing Board filed a complaint against Biancone on May 3 because one of his runners, Iron Butterfly, tested positive for the Class III drug Salmeterol following a second-place finish at Santa Anita Park on January 7.

Stewards have not completed an investigation in the case, CHRB spokesman Mike Marten said.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer