NYRA Accepts Entry From Marcus Vitali

[Wandering Eyes]

Trainer Marcus Vitali, who has not started a horse at a NYRA track since 2021, will make his  return to the Big Apple Friday when he sends out Classy Lass (Classic Empire) in Friday's fifth race at the Belmont At The Big A meet. The race is a $17,500 claimer on the dirt.

The Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first with the story.

Vitali, who has numerous violations on his record, reached an accord with NYRA July 1, 2022 in which he agreed to a suspension. But NYRA was vague about the details and both sides said the terms of the settlement were to be kept confidential. NYRA had attempted to bar him from its three tracks, but could not do so until offering Vitali a hearing. It appears that the “agreement” was a compromise in which Vitali agreed not to run any horses in New York for an unspecified period and NYRA agreed to not go forward in its attempts to ban him permanently.

“Marcus Vitali has satisfied the terms of the NYRA settlement agreement reached in 2022 and is licensed to participate in racing activities by the New York State Gaming Commission,” said NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna. “As such, he is currently permitted to enter races on the NYRA circuit.”

In an official “statement of charges” issued against Vitali in 2022, NYRA pointed to what it alleged was a long and lengthy list of suspensions and medication violations.

“From between in or about 2010 and in or about 2020, Respondent amassed an extensive record of medication violations, lengthy suspensions, improperly using 'program' or 'paper' trainers during suspensions and obstructing an investigation into alleged wrongdoing,” the statement read. “In the past five years, Respondent was denied entry, ejected and/or had license applications denied by regulators of Thoroughbred racing in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and Delaware; and was sanctioned by the Jockey Club for violating a racing statute, rule or regulation relating to prohibited or restricted drugs, medications or substances seven times in a single year.”

It was unclear when and why the New York Gaming Commission green-lighted Vitali's latest license application. At deadline for this story, the Gaming Commission had not answered an email from the TDN requesting information on Vitali's reinstatement.

“I don't really have a comment. I just entered a horse,” Vitali said. “I renewed my license last year when I was at Presque Isle. I have this horse and I just can't find a spot for her. I thought this race at Aqueduct fit this filly and we're going to run her. I have accepted my responsibility over the years and I'm ready to move forward. We're doing what we have to do. I like racing in New York and I think she fits in that particular spot. There was nowhere else to run her.”

Vitali has run only a few horses at NYRA tracks over the years and has focused his attention more on lower level tracks. All of his starters this year have come at Turf Paradise. He is 4-for-21 on the year.

He says he currently has stalls at Presque Isle Downs and at Hawthorne and does not intend to ask NYRA for any stalls.

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