Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, Mar. 20-26

[Wandering Eyes]

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 03/25/2025
Licensee: Collin Maragh, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Cajun's Cookin, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 2/14/25.

Date: 03/25/2025
Licensee: John Toscano, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 26, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of DMSO–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mr. Mendelssohn, who finished second at Turf Paradise on 1/25/25.

Date: 03/24/2025
Licensee: Michael Zalalas, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person pursuant to ADMC Program Rule 3323, with credit given for the 36-day suspension served, which was issued by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission in connection with these violations; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violations for an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a post-time on ATM Awesome on 9/1/23; and Secret Spell on 3/14/24.

Date: 03/21/2025
Licensee: Carlos Rondon-Mora, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 22, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Tramadol- Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Marvelous Lady, who won at Tampa Bay on 12/6/24.

Date: 03/21/2025
Licensee: Salvador Soto, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horses' Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500 per violation, for a total fine of $1,500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points per violation, for a total of 4.5 Penalty Points. Treated as one violation. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Methocarbamol, Phenylbutazone and Dexamethasone–all controlled substances (Class C)–in samples taken from Geebeesbigboy, who finished fourth at Zia Park on 12/2/24, and from Stormy Dame, who won at Zia Park on 12/9/24.

Date: 03/20/2025
Licensee: Fernando Ferreira, trainer
Penalty: 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $5,000. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violations for an Intra-Articular Injection Within Fourteen (14) days of a Post-Time on Nice Weather on 10/25/23; on Dance a Little Jig on 10/26/23; and Spikes Shirl on 11/3/23.

Date: 03/20/2025
Licensee: Thomas Pierce Jr., trainer
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Mar. 21, 2025; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results obtained on 09/02/24 and 09/29/24, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $25,000. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance except in certain circumstances–in a sample taken from Angel's Shadows, who won at Albuquerque on 9/2/24.

Pending ADMC Violations
03/26/2025, James Nicholson Jr., trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Midnight Getaway on 2/20/25.

03/24/2025, Wayne Catalano, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Jimmy the Hat on 2/25/25.

03/21/2025, Kasey Ray Kemper, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from El Siete Leguas on 2/24/25.

03/21/2025, Bill McLean, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a controlled substance (Class B)–in a sample taken from Mo Town Gal on 2/20/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Penn National
Jordano Joel Tunon–violation date Mar. 20; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Turf Paradise
Harry Hernandez–violation date Mar. 20; $500 fine, two-day suspension
Francisco Garcia–violation date Mar. 20; $750 fine, three-day suspension

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