HISA And Rudy Rodriguez Reach Agreement; Provisional Suspension Lifted

[Wandering Eyes]

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and trainer Rudy Rodriguez have reached an agreement that will end Rodriguez's provisional suspension and allow him to return to training, HISA and Rodriguez announced jointly in a statement released Tuesday.

His suspension will officially end on Wednesday. Rodriguez has not started a horse since Dec.  13.

Rodriguez's problems began in November when HISA alleged that the NYRA-based trainer had violated rules related to “cruelty, mistreatment, neglect or abuse” of Thoroughbreds. At that time, HISA served Rodriguez with a “notice of violation and show cause.”

HISA had cited examples of 16 horses trained by Rodriguez that had been put on the Veterinarian's List since Nov. 22, 2024. It also alleged that none of the horses had undergone a lameness evaluation or diagnostic work performed since being placed on the Veterinarians' List.

Rodriguez was given a Dec. 12 hearing before hearing officer Armand Leone and testified that all of his horses had been well cared for. But Leone concluded in his report that Rodriguez “failed to follow the standard of care required for a Trainer and endangered the welfare of his horses.” Leone added that HISA demonstrated “good cause” for an immediate suspension of Rodriguez's license before the full case had been adjudicated.

After Leone's ruling, the provisional suspension went into effect Dec. 16. A provisional suspension means that persons operating in racing states under HISA's jurisdiction cannot participate in racing while their case is still in the process of being fully adjudicated.

In the joint statement, HISA recognized that Rodriguez had made assurances that he would be more careful going forward when it came to caring for his horses and seeing to it that proper tests and veterinary work took place in the cases of lameness or other injuries.

“The agreement reflects Mr. Rodriguez's commitment to ensuring that all his Covered Horses are cared for, trained and compete in a manner that reflects the highest standards of equine welfare and integrity,” the statement read. “As a result of this process and working collaboratively with HISA, Mr. Rodriguez has reviewed his existing practices and has agreed to implement remedial measures designed to ensure horses in his care receive timely and adequate veterinary intervention and care. The lifting of Mr. Rodriguez's provisional suspension is conditioned upon his $10,000 donation to a thoroughbred aftercare organization and continued compliance with the conditions set forth in the Agreed Order.”

An official ruling regarding Rodriguez's status was posted on the HISA portal site Tuesday, and it gave more details.

Rodriguez's registration with HISA was actually suspended for an additional six months, but that six-month suspension has been stayed and is contingent upon the trainer not committing another violation of HISA's Racetrack Safety Rules or violating the terms of the agreed order within a one-year period. The $10,000 donation must be made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance or “a similar nonprofit organization dedicated to Thoroughbred aftercare.”

In addition, when Rodriguez has a horse placed on the Veterinarian's List for “unsoundness, injured or Epistaxis” he must agree to have an attending veterinarian conduct a complete evaluation of the horse within 48 hours of the time the horse is placed on the vet's list. Rodriguez also had to agree that Dr. Donald Baker will have “complete, unrestricted, and unfettered access to Rodriguez's barn and training facilities at any time, with reasonable notice…”

The TDN placed a call Tuesday to Rodriguez's attorney Clark Brewster, but, at the time of deadline for this story, had not heard back from him.

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