by Pete Denk

Kentucky stewards have suspended Rod Stewart, D.V.M., for five years for a variety of offenses, including a four-year suspension for possession of Alpha-Cobratoxin, snake venom that can be used as a nerve blocking agent.

Kentucky Horse Racing Authority investigators say they found three vials of cobra venom when they searched three barns at Keeneland Race Course used by trainer Patrick Biancone on June 22.

Stewart was at the barn when the search was conducted, and the venom was found in a tack room, according to the KHRA. Stewart’s vehicle also was searched.

“We hope this action by the stewards sends a clear message that violations of Kentucky’s racing rules will result in harsh penalties,” KHRA Executive Director Lisa Underwood said.

Stewart, an Australian native, practices in Kentucky, New York, and California. His New York-based attorney, Karen Murphy, called the punishment inappropriate and plans to file an appeal.

“The penalty has no relationship whatsoever to the facts of the case,” Murphy said. “The [Racing Commissioners International] recommends six months to a year for the administration of cobra venom, and this penalty, which is for possession only, is not remotely within those guidelines.”

The June 22 search was in response to a Biancone-trained horse testing positive for theophylline and caffeine, Underwood said. L’Aziza, a two-year-old Zavata filly who won a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs on May 3, tested positive for those class B drugs following the race.

Biancone was suspended from September 5-19 for that offense. He is scheduled to come off suspension on Thursday.

“We are still awaiting a stewards hearing for Mr. Biancone to be held in the near future, and we are continuing the investigation,” Underwood said.

Following the barn search and confiscation of the cobra venom, Stewart called the stewards and voluntarily submitted to a taped interview, said Murphy, who added that the tape has not been supplied to her.

“Rod told them what was there, why it was there, and what it was used for,” Murphy said. “That’s very important and it should be weighed with any penalty assessed. The stewards were given full background, full redress of what was going on. It was sealed and labeled, and he provided a perfectly adequate explanation.”

Murphy said Stewart does not use cobra venom on horses, but she also said cobra venom has therapeutic uses in horses, and that it is an alternative to a posterior digital neurectomy, a surgery that removes part of the nerve in a horse’s leg, a procedure commonly called heel nerving.

“We all know horse have problems in their feet. We all know nerving occurs,” Murphy said. “There’s no mystery there, but this is something you can do to prevent that ultimate act, and that’s why RCI recognizes [cobra venom] as a class 2, with therapeutic use with potential for abuse.”

Stewart also received a one-year suspension for possession of Carbidopa and Levodopa, two drugs that can be used in conjunction to increase dopamine levels. Carbidopa and Levodopa are class A drugs under Kentucky’s classifications. The one-year suspension will be served after the four-year suspension for cobra venom.

Stewart also received another 60 days for failing to report on Biancone’s possession of cobra venom and improper labeling of medication. The 60-day suspension can be served concurrently with the five-year suspension, the KHRA press release stated.

The French-born Biancone trained 1983 Horse of the Year All Along (Fr) and won back-to-back runnings of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) with All Along and Sagace (Fr) in 1983-’84.

Biancone came to the United States in 2000 after receiving a ten-month suspension in Hong Kong for two drug positives. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also fined him in 1997 after finding a banned substance in more than 20 of his horses.

Pete Denk is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer