A spokesman for the New York Racing Association said May 17 that embattled trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., is not expected to ship horses to Belmont Park in the immediate future.
“Following recent events at Churchill Downs, which remain under investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, NYRA has engaged in discussions with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.,” read a statement from NYRA vice president for communications Patrick McKenna. “Mr. Joseph has no horses stabled at Belmont Park and, to our understanding, is not currently planning on shipping horses to New York or entering races at Belmont Park while the matter is under investigation.
“NYRA will continue to evaluate our response should new information come to light.”
Joseph saw his horses scratched from races at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission following two sudden deaths of horses from his barn during or after racing events at the track. Subsequently, Churchill Downs announced it had banned Joseph from its property.
Read our previous reporting on sudden death in racehorses here.
In media interviews after the track's announcement, Joseph expressed frustration over the situation, characterizing the track's actions against him as an attempt to distract from a broader issue with equine fatalities there. A total of seven horses died at the racetrack in the span of 10 days.
No ruling has been issued against Joseph by the commission, though a spokeswoman told the Paulick Report on May 10 that the investigation into Joseph's operation continues.
Those Derby week scratches included the removal of Lord Miles from the Run for the Roses. Joseph told the Thoroughbred Daily News last week that while he had considered sending the horse to the Preakness, a four-furlong workout at Palm Meadows on May 12 convinced him to point for the Belmont Stakes instead.
Joseph has continued to fill the entry box at Gulfstream Park throughout the month of May, where he has 15 horses entered over the next four days.
The post NYRA: Saffie Joseph Not Planning To Run Here While Under Investigation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
