Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred trainer Aurelio Valdez has been suspended through Sept. 24, 2038, and fined a total of $40,000 by the New Mexico Racing Commission for a series of drug violations, according to rulings posted to the Association of Racing Commissioners International website on Tuesday.
Eight Valdez trainees which ran at the Downs at Albuquerque in August were found to have Guanabenz in their post-race blood samples. The Class 3, Penalty category B medication is used in humans to treat high blood pressure, but may have long-term sedative and analgesic effects in horses.
The ARCI explains the classification of Class B drugs as follows: “Drugs placed in this class may or may not have an accepted therapeutic use in the horse. Many are drugs that affect the cardiovascular, pulmonary and autonomic nervous systems. They all have the potential of affecting the performance of a racing horse.”
All eight horses were disqualified with purse earnings ordered returned and redistributed; each must pass a commission examination before becoming eligible to enter in another race. The eight horses are as follows:
- Reining Pesos, winner of the second race on Aug. 13 (TB)
- Oh Gollie, winner of the fifth race on Aug. 13 (QH)
- Tobleronne, second-place finisher in the sixth race on Aug. 13 (QH)
- Jes Charge N Go, winner of the seventh race on Aug. 13 (QH)
- Mr Racy Perry, winner of the tenth race on Aug. 13 (QH)
- Deputy's Echo, second-place finisher in the fourth race on Aug. 20 (TB)
- El Tarasco 727, sixth-place finisher in the sixth race on Aug. 20 (TB)
- Royal Queen, third in the first race on Aug. 26 (TB)
Prior to the aforementioned rulings, Valdez was already serving a suspension until April 9, 2023. The trainer's lifetime Thoroughbred record (2013, 2018-22) is 29-20-21 from 186 starts, with earnings of $578,553. Of that total, $207,895 was earned 2022.
Valdez' lifetime Quarter Horse record (2012-12, 2018-22) is 37-28-25 from 289 starts, with earnings of $722,712. Of that total, $321,756 was earned in 2022.
Valdez has accumulated 38 points under the multiple medication violation point system, extending his suspensions to a total of 16 years. He was also fined $5,000 for each incident, for a total of $40,000.
New Mexico Racing Commission executive director Izzy Trejo told bloodhorse.com he expects Valdez to appeal the penalties.
“It's such a shame that the game is played at such a low level that he's played it at here in New Mexico,” Trejo told bloodhorse.com, “and it's our job and duty to eradicate the industry of these kinds of people.”
The post New Mexico: Trainer Aurelio Valdez Banned 16 Years, Fined $40,000 For Multiple Drug Violations appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
