Indiana Grand | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wong Provisionally Suspended After B Sample Confirmation

Trainer Jonathan Wong has been provisionally suspended after being alerted late Wednesday that the B Sample confirmed the presence of Metformin in a post-race test taken from his trainee, Heaven and Earth (Gormley).

Heaven and Earth broke her maiden at Indiana Grand June 1 but subsequently tested positive for the prescription drug Metformin, a type 2 diabetes treatment classified as a banned substance by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).

During a conference call Thursday morning before representatives from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) and a judge, a full hearing on the merits of the case was scheduled for Sept. 25, said Wong.

“There's zero sense of urgency,” said Wong. “I've been put out of work since July 2 because they hadn't adjusted the rules until 27 days later. But by then, I've lost my horses. I haven't made a paycheck for a month. And now it's going to be going on three months.”

Technically, this is the second time Wong has been provisionally suspended as the case has unfolded.

As a matter of protocol at that time, HIWU initially provisionally suspended Wong at the beginning of June when the A sample returned a positive finding for Metformin.

Late last month, the HISA Authority announced that it had modified the rules surrounding provisional suspensions. Under the new provisions, responsible parties who request B Sample confirmation following a positive test for a banned substance won't face any potential provisional suspension until the B sample findings are returned.

“If the B Sample confirms the A Sample, the Responsible Person shall be Provisionally Suspended upon Notification of the B Sample confirmation,” the new rules state.

Though that announcement technically permitted Wong to return to training while the B sample was being processed, he said that his owners did not wish to transfer the horses back with the B Sample results expected imminently.

“If I would have gotten notified on this positive today, I would still be allowed to train and go on as normal until my B Sample came back,” he said. “But I wasn't afforded that opportunity.”

Wong–who potentially faces up to a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine–voiced frustration with other aspects of the way his case has been handled. This includes, he said, how the B samples of blood and urine were sent separately for testing.

“They were separated by eight days, which according to everybody I've spoken with is not how it's supposed to be done,” Wong said.

“If this would have happened a few weeks prior, this would have been a 15-day penalty,” said Wong, alluding to how trainer Wesley Ward served a 15-day suspension for a Metformin positive in a July 15, 2022 race at Monmouth. “Now they're threatening me with up to two years.”

As such, Wong said that he's considering his future in the sport, even if the full merits hearing skews in his favor. “I don't know, when all this is taken care of, if I want to go back to training,” Wong said.

“It brings a lot of stuff into perspective,” he said. “I've a wife, a 13-year-old, a 5-year-old, a 3-year-old and a 10-month-old. I miss so much of their life by putting work first and them second, for it all to be literally thrown away in a day over something I didn't even do.”

Despite these frustrations, Wong said that the concept of HISA is necessary for the sport.

“First and foremost, I'd like to give them credit for making the changes [to the provisional suspension provisions]. I applaud them for listening to people's complaints and suggestions, adapting and working to it,” Wong said.

“I totally have zero problems with HISA. I think it's something that's much needed. I just think it needs to be tweaked. It's a learning process. They're learning. Owners, trainers, jockeys, we're all learning as we go along with this,” said Wong.

“But when you're completely not awarded any opportunities from day one until your hearing, that's pretty much being charged as guilty until proven innocent,” Wong added. “I feel like I've been locked up and had the key thrown away.”

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Wong Suspended for Metformin; `Our Game Has Been Hijacked’ Says Attorney

by Sue Finley and Stefanie Grimm

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has provisionally suspended trainer Jonathan Wong after one of his horses tested positive for a banned substance last month.

Heaven and Earth (Gormley) broke her maiden at Indiana Grand June 1 but subsequently tested positive for the prescription drug metformin, a type 2 diabetes treatment.

Wong was notified that his horses will need to be moved to the care of another trainer and potentially faces up to a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine.

While metformin is a permitted medication by the U. S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for humans in athletic competition, the National Institutes of Health published a study indicating it has an effect on athletic performance. In a study of 10 men, they determined that “time to exhaustion was significantly higher after metformin than placebo ingestion,” and that “metformin improved performance and anaerobic alactic contribution during high-intensity exercise.”

Wesley Ward is currently serving a 15-day suspension for a metformin positive in a July 15, 2022 race at Monmouth. His attorney, Drew Mollica, said that the Monmouth stewards did not impose a significant fine or suspension because they agreed the metformin positive was the result of contamination.

Wong has retained attorney Alan Pincus.

“Jonathan Wong has a prescription for metformin,” he said. “It is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for humans with diabetes. He uses it, and apparently, he inadvertently contaminated his horse. So they give him the notice yesterday, on a holiday weekend, you're out of horse racing. `Get rid of your horses.' We have requested a split sample and a provisional hearing, but since you're not allowed the data pack from the lab until the split comes back, it makes it very difficult. In fact, their whole system makes it very difficult.”

On Thursday, the TDN published a report saying that HISA had temporarily suspended full enforcement of their intra-articular joint injections rules. Under HISA's rules as written, trainers are prohibited from giving their horse intra-articular joint injections within 14 days prior to the post-time of a race, and within seven days prior to any timed and reported workout. According to HISA Chief Executive Lisa Lazarus, between 15 and 20 trainers have breached the rule surrounding intra-articular joint injections prior to a workout. The reason HISA decided to temporarily modify its enforcement of the rule was due to “confusion” among trainers about the specifics of the rules related to workouts, Lazarus said.

“It's a nightmare,” he continued. “It's unconstitutional. It's unfair. And our game has been hijacked by a bunch of know-nothings posing like they know what they're doing. Lisa Lazarus waved her mighty hand and told 20 trainers who have violated the intra-articular injection rule, `I'm going to let you go.' Even though there is nothing in the regulations allowing her to do so. I imagine when the names of those people come (public), there will be some pretty privileged people. But unfortunately, Jonathan Wong is not one of them. She said the trainers were confused. But confusion is not a defense to strip liability. It's hypocritical. It's not in the regulations, and it just shows they don't know what they're doing. None of it makes sense. And no one will say `boo.' ”

Pincus said that this was the second such case he has had.

“The first one I had was Mario Dominguez,” said Pincus. Dominguez's horse Petulant Delight tested positive for cobalt May 24 at Parx. “Cobalt and the old ARCI guidelines calls it a positive at 25 parts per billion, but since cobalt is in all horses at all times, they say if you have between 25 and 49 parts per billion, the trainer should just get a warning letter. Unfortunately for Mario, if it had happened three days earlier, he gets a warning, but (now), he's thrown out of racing. They give you the notice. You're out. Horses have to be transferred to a new trainer that has nothing to do with you. You lose your owners. You lose your stalls and you lose your livelihood.”

In Dominguez's case, Pincus said that Dominguez asked for a split sample and was asked to send $2,000. He said seven months earlier, Pincus had a case where the same split sample was $750. “So the gouging begins,” said. “He is indigent, and they took away his only means of support, and like most trainers he's living month to month.” He said that Pincus had been unable to afford the fees for the provisional hearing, and had been asked for over $4,000 for the hearing. “They have put a monetary barrier toward someone getting due process,” he said. “We are now 19 days in, and he has not been charged with anything.”

Pincus said that the lack of due process “sickens” him.

“You take a person who has worked their whole life. They're not out there robbing a 7-11. They're out there working seven days a week to try to build something. You're telling me that some person comes to you on a holiday weekend and says `good luck in your next career.' You've not been charged with anything. You have something that would have resulted in some small penalty–as well as it should. But it's going to happen more and more and more, but the idea that you let your friends off because they were confused? It sickens me. This is the game I have been in my whole life. They're an occupying force, and no one will stand up to them. But (trainers) are playing Russian roulette every time they go to the test barn.”

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Downes Named Emerald Downs Announcer

Bill Downes has been named track announcer at Emerald Downs for the Washington track's 2022 season which opens May 15. He replaces Tom Harris who recently stepped down.

Downes served as Indiana Grand track announcer from 2013 to 2021, and before that called races at Ellis Park, Beulah Park, Presque Isle Downs, and River Downs. He also was back-up announcer at Churchill Downs.

“I'm thrilled to come to Emerald Downs,” Downes said. “Emerald is a track I've always held in high esteem. I was there once for a two-day handicapping tournament, and the thing I noticed was an excellent on-track experience. Everyone was having a good time.”

Downes becomes just the fourth announcer in Emerald Downs' 27-year history. Robert Geller was in the announcer's booth from 1996 to 2015, followed by Matt Dinerman (2015-2017) and Harris (2018-2021).

The post Downes Named Emerald Downs Announcer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Dooley Named Race Announcer At Horseshoe Indianapolis

John G. Dooley, veteran racing announcer who has provided the call for hundreds of graded stakes races, has been named the new track announcer for Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino. Dooley will step into his new Indiana role when the 20^th season of racing gets underway Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

“We are elated to add such an accomplished track announcer to our racing team at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “John Dooley's voice is associated with so many top races each year and having him in the announcer's booth in Indiana will be a big boost to our racing program.”

A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Dooley moved into horse racing following graduation from St. John's University in 1987 where he obtained a degree in sports management. After serving in the publicity offices of Monmouth Park in New Jersey and NYRA, he moved into his first announcing position at Thistledown in Ohio for six years before returning to NYRA as the assistant track announcer until 1997.

Dooley then became the announcer for Lone Star Park in Texas during their inaugural season in 1997 and relocated to Arlington International Park in 2000, a position he held until the track closed in 2021. In addition, Dooley joined the staff at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as the track announcer in 2004 during the winter months, creating a circuit between Fair Grounds and Arlington for the past 18 years.

“I'm excited for this new opportunity to join the broadcast team for the newly branded Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Dooley. “I think racing in Indiana is moving in a positive direction. Having lived and called races in the Midwest for the past 22 years, and knowing many horsemen and fans in the region, I look forward to being a part of the 20th anniversary season in Indiana.”

Dooley has been associated with some of the top races in North America over the past two decades, including the Arlington Million at Arlington Racecourse and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He has been the voice behind tens of thousands of races during his career with two calls holding a special place in his heart.

“I enjoy every race card I get a chance to do, but I'll never forget my first Grade 1 race,” said Dooley. “The race was Go for Wand winning the 1990 Beldame at Belmont Park while I worked for the NYRA Press Office. And I always think back to the great moment for Chicago racing fans when The Pizza Man rallied to win the Grade 1 Arlington Million in 2015. It was a thrilling finish to see the Illinois bred win it for the home team.”

Dooley will make a circuit out of calling races in Indiana as well as Fair Grounds moving forward. He also has a large following of fans on social media and is engaged in all aspects of promoting horse racing.

“In addition to being such a recognizable force in the announcer's booth, John (Dooley) will assist our race marketing team with several promotions and events throughout the year,” said Halstrom. “He's definitely very invested in our sport and having him as part of our program is a big boost to our entire production.”

The 20^th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

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