Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, July 31-Aug. 6

[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.

Among this week's rulings, trainer Daniel Harvey was suspended five days and fined $500 for a caffeine overage determined to have come from contaminated feed supplements.

The Harvey-trained Leopardi, who finished second at Tampa Bay on April 16, subsequently tested positive for caffeine, a Class B controlled substance.

According to the case resolution, numerous supplements the trainer had given his horse were sent to the University of California at Davis for analysis. Caffeine was detected in two of the supplements, despite not being listed on the label of “any of the supplements collected by HIWU.”

The case resolution goes on to say that Harvey was given until Aug. 1 to either accept the charges or request a hearing before the Internal Adjudication Panel. On July 31, Harvey “submitted his signed Admission of Equine Controlled Medication Violation and Acceptance of Consequences to HIWU.”

The case resolution lists several rules under which Harvey could have been issued lesser consequences than a suspension and fine, including a reprimand.

Despite finding that Harvey was guilty of “No Significant Fault or Negligence,” HIWU decided the five-day suspension–which began Aug. 2–and the $500 fine were the “appropriate” consequences in this case.

“While there is no evidence that Mr. Harvey had reason to know or suspect that the supplement products at issue contained Caffeine, the fact that two products contained Caffeine results in the conclusion that Mr. Harvey did not act in a manner that illustrates a level of care that would result in further reduced Consequences such as only a written Reprimand and no fine,” the case resolution states.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 08/06/2025
Licensee: Kieron Magee, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Love to Eat on 6/17/25.

Date: 08/05/2025
Licensee: Ralph D'Alessandro, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Aug. 6, 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. The following treated as one violation. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a Class C controlled substance–in samples taken from Signifying Nothing, who won at Finger Lakes on 6/17/25; and after she finished second at Finger Lakes on 7/1/25

Date: 08/01/2025
Licensee: Daniel Steve Harvey, trainer
Penalty: 5-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on Aug. 2, 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 $500; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Resolved by HIWU without a hearing.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Leopardi, who finished second at Tampa Bay on 4/16/25.

Date: 08/01/2025
Licensee: Gene Jacquot, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Annie One Sock on 6/23/25.

Date: 07/31/2025
Licensee: William Martin, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning Aug. 1, 2025, with partial credit given for the period of Ineligibility served in connection with the 07/03/23 violation involving Covered Horse Wild Irish; 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; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Violation of Rule 3313, concerning the “Use of a controlled medication method during the race period.” More specifically, violation of Rule 4221, concerning the “alkalinization or use/administration of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2).”

According to the case resolution with no hearing, the blood sample collected from Martin-trainee Pittsburgh prior to winning at Oaklawn Park on 2/28/25 had excess TCO2 levels. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–otherwise known as milkshaking–which can neutralize the buildup of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance.

Date: 07/30/2025
Licensee: Patrick Ashton, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning July 31, 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. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Max Forward Speed, who won at Parx Racing on 6/7/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
08/04/2025, Jesus Esquival, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sis Boom Bob, who finished second at Belterra Park on 5/30/25.

08/05/2025, Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Clenbuterol–a banned substance permitted for use in specific circumstances–in a sample taken from Miss Hard to Get on 4/24/25; and for the presence of bronchodilator Albuterol–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Surprise Boss to Get on 4/24/25

08/04/2025, Jorge Delgado, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Spider Belle on 6/8/25.

07/31/2025, Howard R. Brown Jr., trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Aegean Sea, who won at Parx Racing on 6/9/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Fanduel Sportsbook and Horse Racing
Javier Tavares–violation date July 31; $250 fine, one-day suspension.

Prairie Meadows
Jon Glenn Arnett–violation date August 6; Prohibited device or item, no other details yet available.

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