The United States Trotting Association has opted not to issue a two-year suspension to trainer Byron Hooley over a pair of positives for ractopamine, according to it's weekly Fines and Suspensions Bulletin, because the positives were proven to be a result of feed contamination.
Ractopamine is a feed additive for cattle and swine designed to create lean muscle. When used in horses, it reportedly acts similarly to anabolic steroids in building muscle mass. The standard penalty for a ractopamine positive, a Drug Class C, Penalty Class A violation, is a minimum one (1) year suspension, a fine of $5,000, and six (6) Multiple Medical Violation (MMV) points absent mitigating circumstances, in addition to a loss of purse.
Hooley's trainees Stella Rose and Coaches Corner each tested positive for the drug after racing at Hoosier Park in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Aug. 17 and Aug. 25, respectively.
Hooley presented proof from his feed company that the contamination was a result of a batch of feed for cattle which was mixed just prior to his own. That cattle feed contained Optaflex (Ractopamine hydrochloride). The feed company confirmed that Hooley's feed mixture has never had ractopamine added to it.
USTA judges found Hooley not culpable for the contamination, and ordered that his two trainees only be penalized by loss of purse. Stella Rose, winner of the seventh race on Aug. 17, forfeited $33,000, while Coaches Corner, winner of the eighth race on Aug. 25, forfeits $3,750.
Read more at the USTA's Fines and Suspensions Bulletin.
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