NEWS
Sadler, Mitchell account for 28 steroid positives
Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008 8:13 PM
RICHARD SHAPIRO
Benoit & Associates photo
by Jeff Lowe
Horses in the care of John Sadler, the leading trainer at Del Mar, have accounted for 18 of the 38 positive tests since the California Horse Racing Board began testing for anabolic steroids on July 1.
Horses trained by Mike Mitchell, who ranks second in the Del Mar standings, have accounted for ten positive steroid tests, CHRB Executive Director Kirk Breed said on Thursday.
CHRB investigators searched Sadler’s barn on Monday at Del Mar. Breed said, to his knowledge, Mitchell’s barn has not been searched.
Through Wednesday, Sadler had registered 25 wins at Del Mar, 11 more than Mitchell. Sadler has five stakes wins during the meet, including the John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) with Black Mamba (NZ). Mitchell won the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) with Monzante.
Neither Sadler nor his attorney was immediately available for comment on Thursday. Mitchell declined to comment.
Richard Shapiro, the CHRB’s chairman, reacted strongly to a report on the number of positive tests on Tuesday during a board meeting.
“We mean business,” Shapiro said. “They’re not naïve. It’s shameful that two or three people have taken an abusive approach for personal gain at the expense of the rest of the industry.”
The 38 positives have derived from 418 tests at Hollywood Park and Del Mar since the board began regulating threshold levels for the anabolic steroids boldenone, nandrolone, stanozolol, and testosterone.
The CHRB sent unofficial notices to the owners and trainers of horses who registered positive tests during July. As of August 1, positive tests have been considered official Class 4 violations. On September 4, they will become Class 3 violations, which are subject to trainer suspensions and purse redistributions.
“The truth is that it’s on somebody’s record for the month of August,” Shapiro said. “The only difference is there’s not a purse redistribution because it’s not a Class 3 until September 4.”
The CHRB said Thursday that horses treated with anabolic steroids in California will be placed on the state veterinarian’s list and ineligible to race for 30 days.
The policy will take effect Friday.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
