Veterinarian and 13 Horse Trainers Violated Drug Rules, U.S. Regulator Says
A veterinarian and 13 trainers, seeking an edge at a Pennsylvania racetrack, injected pain medications into the joints of more than 100 horses in violation of federal rules, the federal agency that now regulates the sport said on Friday.Afterward, 30 percent of the horses never raced again and 10 percent were declared lame post-race by a regulatory veterinarian.Three horses were euthanized as a direct result of injuries sustained in races, while four more died later, said the agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, or HISA.The veterinarian, Dr.
Allen Post Bonnell, and three of the trainers, Kim Graci, Marlin Miller and Michael Zalalas, are based at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa.It is a midlevel track adjacent to a casino.Bonnell and the three trainers were suspended in November and admitted injecting their horses inside the 14-day period when injections are not allowed.
The other names were redacted in an investigative report by Pennsylvania’s State Horse Racing Commission.State investigators did not find any illegal drugs — mostly corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid that ease pain and lubricate the joints.“Many admitted they were injecting two, three, four days before a race,” said Lisa Lazarus, the chief executive of the horseracing authority.
“It’s detrimental because it masks pain and makes it difficult for regulatory vets to assess if a horse is race ready.”The authority will pursue penalties against the trainers, including the disqualification of more than 100 horses from previous race results and subsequent forfeiture of purses, as well as suspensions and fines.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of T...