‘Egregious Breach … Of Fundamental Responsibility’: Trainer Potts Under Scrutiny By NYRA

The New York Racing Association is gathering facts for a possible administrative hearing that could lead to the suspension of trainer Wayne Potts from participation or stabling at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga racetracks.

The move comes after Potts received a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine in New Jersey for allegedly directing assistant Bonnie Lucas not to allow the filly Chispita to be vanned off on an equine ambulance – as ordered by a regulatory veterinarian – after a second-place finish in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on Aug. 6, 2021.

A claim was submitted for Chispita in that race, but New Jersey Racing Commission rules state that a claim may be voided if a horse is vanned off. The claim was subsequently voided.

Lucas, also listed as the owner, received  a 30-day suspension as well as a $1,000 fine.

The 30-day ban is just the latest sanction against Potts, who was suspended 20 days in New York last year for violating claiming rules and also in 2021 received a 15-day suspension for a medication violation in New Jersey. In 2020, he was excluded by track management from participating at Maryland Jockey Club tracks for allegedly operating as a program trainer for Marcus Vitali, who was also banned by the MJC. In 2019, Potts was suspended in Delaware for non-payment of invoices from a veterinary firm. Three years before that, Potts was fined in Maryland for operating his racing stable without workers' compensation insurance for nearly seven months. It was only after an exercise rider was injured that it was discovered that the workers' comp policy had been cancelled.

“In just the last five months, Wayne Potts has been suspended by both the New York State Gaming Commission and the New Jersey Racing Commission due to conduct in direct violation of the rules of racing,” said Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for the New York Racing Association. “Most recently, Mr. Potts was proven to have jeopardized the health and safety of a horse by refusing to allow the horse to enter an equine ambulance as directed by a regulatory veterinarian. This is a particularly egregious breach of his most fundamental responsibility as a trainer – to ensure the well-being of horses under his care.

“NYRA has afforded Mr. Potts the privilege of stabling and racing at our venues, but this pattern of conduct calls into question whether he should continue to enjoy that privilege. NYRA is gathering the necessary facts to support a statement of charges and a formal administrative hearing to potentially suspend Mr. Potts from participating in racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. In the near term, NYRA is determining immediate options such as revoking his stall allotment at Belmont Park.”

Chispita has not raced since running for a $7,500 claiming price in that Aug. 6 race.

Potts told Daily Racing Form's David Grening he intends to appeal the New Jersey suspension. Grening also reported Potts told him Chispita is “turned out on a farm.”

The Paulick Report was subsequently contacted by Florida horsewoman Julie Ramgeet, who said she facilitated the private sale of Chispita from trainer David Fawkes to Potts last year. Ramgeet, who said her policy is to follow up on all horses she sells after their racing careers end, said Chispita has been retired from racing and is serving as a riding horse for a young person.

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Potts Must Sit Out First 30 Days of Monmouth

On Aug. 6, 2021, conditioner Wayne Potts allegedly told his assistant, Bonnie Lucas, not to permit one of his trainees to be vanned off the track after a race at Monmouth Park despite an order to do so from the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) veterinarian.

Both Potts and Lucas—who in addition to being an assistant trainer, was also the owner of Chispita, the filly in question—were fined $1,000 and suspended 30 days for their actions in a September ruling.

On Jan. 21, 2022, the NJRC issued a separate ruling defining the exact dates of their suspensions. They are now set to coincide with the start of the coming Monmouth meet, from May 7 through June 5.

Chispita finished second in that race, a $7,500 NW2L claimer. The Equibase chart noted that she “dug in and held on.”

The chart also stated that a claim for Chispita was voided, with “vet” listed as the reason.

Chispita hasn't raced since.

It was unclear at deadline for this story if Potts or Lucas have appealed or plan to appeal.

That first week in August last year was an eventful one for Potts.

On Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course, Potts had ownership clients wanting to claim a horse, Mach One, but Potts allegedly told them he couldn't because he had already made a commitment to another owner who wanted to claim a different horse out of the same race.

So another trainer, Amira Chichakly, claimed Mach One for $20,000 on behalf of owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas.

Three days later, Mach One was transferred from Chichakly to Potts.

When the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) found out, Potts was suspended 30 days and fined $2,000 for violating the “restricted transfer” rule that prohibits he claim and subsequent transfer of a horse within the prohibited 30-day time frame.

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