The New Jersey Racing Commission issued a bevy of suspensions and fines on Friday, Jan. 21, according to the Association of Racing Commissioners International's regulatory page, including for trainers Wayne Potts, Bonnie Lucas, and Marvin Richards.
Trainer Marvin Richards was issued a $5,000 fine and suspended for one year (May 7, 2022 through and including May 6, 2023) for a post-race test of Awesomenewyear, winner of the sixth race at Monmouth Park on Sept. 3, 2021. The post-race sample was positive for oxazepam (a sedative designed to treat anxiety, anxiety with depression, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal) and ibuprofen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory), a violation of N.J.A.C 13:70-14A.1(b) (substances foreign to the natural horse) and 13:70-14A.6 (absolute insurer rule).
Awesomenewyear was disqualified from that victory, and the Horseman's Bookkeeper was ordered to redistribute purse money. Richards incurred 2.5 multiple medication violation points.
Trainer Wayne Potts and his assistant Bonnie Lucas were each fined $1,000 and suspended for 30 days (from May 7, 2022 through and including June 5, 2022) over a ruling initially issued on Sept. 18, 2021. The text for that ruling indicates that Potts' trainee Chispita finished second in the fourth race at Monmouth Park on Aug. 6, 2021, and the state veterinarian ordered that that she be vanned off the track in the equine ambulance. Potts ordered his licensed assistant, Bonnie Lucas, to not allow the horse to be vanned off. The state veterinarian voided a claim on Chispita for that Aug. 6 race; the filly has not run since.
The fine and suspension stem from violations of the following rules:
- N.J.A.C. 13:70-1.15 – The stewards may fine, suspend or rule off any person who in their opinion has acted to the detriment of racing or violated the rules.
- N.J.A.C. 13:70-14.13 – Every association, all officials and employees thereof, and all persons licensed in any capacity by the Commission shall give every possible cooperation, aid and assistance to any department, bureau, division, officer, agent or inspector, or any other person connected with the United States Government, or with the State of New Jersey, who may be investigating or prosecuting any matter involving a violation of any law, or any rules or regulations of the Commission. Failure to cooperate will subject the person or persons involved to a fine, suspension or both.
Additional rulings included:
- A $1,000 fine issued to trainer Peter Walder after Briella's first-place finish in the seventh race on Sept. 4 at Monmouth. The post-race sample showed the presence of aminocaproic acid (Amicar); Briella was ordered disqualified.
- A $500 fine issued to trainer Jose D'Angelo after his trainee Avenida Manana' first-place finish in the seventh race on Sept. 18 at Monmouth. The post-race sample showed the presence of 5-hydroxydantrolene (dantrolene), and was ordered disqualified.
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