NEWS
Riccio, owner of Dutrow-trained disqualified stakes winner, files appeal
Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 6:00 PM
by John Scheinman
The owner of King and Crusader, the Rick Dutrow Jr.-trained colt disqualified as winner of the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes at Laurel Park for receiving a Salix (furosemide) treatment inside a two-hour time limit, has filed an appeal and formal complaint with the Maryland Racing Commission.
James A. Riccio, of Bayonne, New Jersey, does not deny that private veterinarian Brian Delp administered Salix to the colt, who won the race on December 17 at Laurel Park. Riccio is arguing that the stewards and other representatives of the state on the backstretch did not follow their own protocols and should have scratched the horse.
“There is a rule that you can’t treat a horse within two hours. There’s a rule the state vet has to inspect each horse on the backside and make a report, and that was never done,” Riccio said. “They didn’t vet the horse out and jog him and feel the ankles and all that. Let’s not bend the rules.”
During a hearing before the stewards, Dutrow testified via telephone that he had called state officials at Laurel to tell them the van transporting the horse was stuck in traffic and would be late. Riccio said Dutrow had called state veterinarian David Zipf, D.V.M.
It is unclear—and being contested—what time that call took place. Riccio said telephone records were being gathered for the appeal. It also remains unclear what time the van transporting King and Crusader arrived at Laurel Park and whether the horse was properly checked in at the stable gate.
Two of the three stewards, John Burke and Phil Grove, said they were not informed King and Crusader had arrived on the grounds late.
“Rick called and told them there was a problem and the stewards never got the message,” Riccio said. “When you inform one of their agents they’re going to be late, they should get the message.”
Dutrow, facing a ten-year suspension by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board for two violations that occurred late in 2010 as well as a history of violations, currently is operating on a stay while he appeals. Since the disqualification in Maryland, he has sent out King and Crusader to victory in a $56,000 optional claiming race on January 13 at Aqueduct and three days later in the $75,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at the New York track.
Delp was fined $1,000 by the Maryland Racing Commission while Dutrow received a $500 penalty.
The primary issue, according to several people interviewed, is the lack of oversight and prerace procedures in the stable area at Laurel. Mike Hopkins, the executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission, said the stewards will meet soon with veterinarians to “go over the current procedures in place and [see] how we can make sure this is never going to happen again.”
The issue of King and Crusader receiving a late Salix injection was brought to the attention of the commission by three trainers who had runners place behind King and Crusader in the Maryland Juvenile Championship—John Robb, Robin Graham, and Leo Nechamkin. Robb’s horse Glib subsequently was elevated to first place after the disqualification.
In the past, the racing commission had a representative on the backstretch that collected slips from private veterinarians who administered Salix a minimum of two hours prior to a race. A track employee subsequently took over that role, according to Hopkins, but no one has been in place for approximately four years, according to a vet with 23 years of experience working at Laurel Park.
“We have a sheet [on which] we write down the administration dose and the time. The sheet gets turned over to the state vet,” said Nick Meittinis, D.V.M. “In the seven or eight years we did not have a slip [collected], we did not have a problem. There is no system in place that oversees that the horses are on the grounds on time.
“In the past, there were Lasix [Salix] administration slips that had to be turned in at the proper time. Had that system been in place, someone would have said the horse didn’t come in on time.”
Another veterinarian, George Harmening, D.V.M., president of Yergey, Steward, Vallance & Associates, said: “There were many breakdowns that day, but when the horse came in that day, he was not signed in and that means the identification slip wasn’t checked.”
Drew Mollica, the former New York-based jockey agent, now a lawyer, will represent Riccio at the appeal. No date has been set.
John Scheinman is a Maryland-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Horse racing, Pembroke Pines, FL on February 16, 2012 at 06:21 PM
Listen to a live show regarding corruption in horse racing on blogtalkradio at 10:30am eastern time
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/is-horse-races-fixed
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Posted by: Horse racing, Miramar, FL on February 11, 2012 at 05:43 PM
http://conspiredcorruption.wordpress.com - This is a case of medical malpractice. That comment by George Harmoning is a bunch of shit. Vets are given a list of horses to treat at the required time. Lasix is given 4 hours before the race, then it is reported to the stewards and so forth. This horse should have been scratched long time ago. The vet had no right treating this horse. I have had a similar experience with George Harmoning he placed 10cc of bute in my horse the morning of the race without my knowledge and permission, I came up with my first bute positive ever, in my 30 year racing career. And the stewards turned a blind eye - why don't they just turn another blind eye, they seem to be good at that
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Posted by: Dogs Up, Syracuse, NY on January 21, 2012 at 01:19 PM
Hey Mayday, great to meet you.
I understand the complexities of the trainer's responsibility as you do. And the Life@10 saga could go on for years to come. It has lasted going into two years and counting.
Once the horse leaves the Paddock area, is saddled, and a leg is up, and the horse sets his first hoof onto the track at the fence, the responsibility to the betting public and other stakeholders in the races is transferred to the checkers beyond the fence right up to gate time, vet, asst. starter, starter, even the outrider. And post race audits. They must audit what the trainer has represented to that time. And even before the race this process must take place. Such as a Derby winner dropping to $5,000 claim. Is he really sound?! When the horse passes the fence, the trainer has represented the horse to qualify, it is those beyond the fence to certify that the horse belongs in the race.
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Posted by: Dogs Up, Syracuse, NY on January 21, 2012 at 01:15 PM
Hey Mayday, great to meet you.
I understand the complexities of the trainer's responsibility as you do. And the Life@10 saga could go on for years to come. It has lasted going into two years and counting.
Once the horse leaves the Paddock area, is saddled, and a leg is up, and the horse sets his first hoof onto the track at the fence, the responsibility to the betting public and other stakeholders in the races is transferred to the checkers beyond the fence right up to gate time, vet, asst. starter, starter, even the outrider. They must audit what the trainer has represented to that time. And even before the race this process must take place. Such as a Derby winner dropping to $5,000 claim. Is he really sound?! When the horse passes the fence, the trainer has represented the horse to qualify, it is those beyond the fence to certify that the horse belongs in the race.
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Posted by: Mayday, Jacksonville, FL on January 21, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Hey Dogs Up in Syracuse---if the trainer is always and entirely responsible for the horse...how come Todd Pletcher was not held responsible for Life at Ten in the 2010 Breeders Cup???
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