lidocaine | Horse Racing Free Tips

O’Neill Fined, Suspended for Lidocaine Positive

Trainer Doug O'Neill has been fined $7,500 and handed a 10-day suspension, starting Monday, Mar. 8, for a positive Lidocaine finding in a past-race sample from last October, as first reported in the Los Angeles Times.

According to the Times, O'Neill negotiated a settlement agreement with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) requiring him to serve only 10 days of a 30-day suspension, on the proviso he doesn't incur any further medication violations for a year.

The positive concerned Howbeit (Secret Circle), second at Santa Anita Oct. 9, who was found to have a metabolite of Lidocaine, an anesthetic, in his post-race sample.

On Twitter Sunday, O'Neill acknowledged the fine and suspension, writing, “I take 100% responsibility for the miniscule (parts per trillion) amount of Lidocaine detected in one of my horses post-race. As the trainer of the horse, the buck stops with me.

“Lidocaine is prevalent in numerous over-the-counter medications used to relieve pain and itching caused by minor sun burns or other burns, insect bites and the like. Lidocaine is an ingredient in human creams.

“I know with certainty that I have never administered Lidocaine to any of my horses, ever, and that this has to be an environmental contamination. The amount involved would not affect a horse's performance.”

The post O’Neill Fined, Suspended for Lidocaine Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘The Buck Stops With Me’: O’Neill To Serve 10-Day Ban For Lidocaine Positive

Doug O'Neill will begin serving a 10-day suspension on Monday, March 8, as a result of a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board stemming from a positive post-race test for lidocaine on Oct. 9, 2020, according to Daily Racing Form. O'Neill was also fined $7,500.

Howbeit tested positive for the anesthetic after finishing second in a $40,000 claiming race at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. It was O'Neill's first medication violation since a flunixin overage in April 2018, according to www.thoroughbredrulings.com. The ruling calls for a 30-day suspension, with 20 days stayed provided O'Neill does not have any Class 1, 2 or 3 violations between now and March 6, 2022.

Howbeit has won twice since the October violation, including a Feb. 13 victory while carrying a $32,000 tag at Santa Anita. He was claimed from that race by Mark Glatt.

O'Neill, who entered Sunday's program tied with Bob Baffert as leading trainer by wins with 20 victories from 140 starts, posted the following statement on his Facebook page:

“I take 100% responsibility for the minuscule (parts per trillion) amount of lidocaine detected in one of my horse's post-race. As the trainer of the horse, the buck stops with me. Lidocaine is prevalent in numerous over-the-counter medications used to relieve pain and itching caused by minor sun burns or other burns, insect bites and the like. Lidocaine is an ingredient in many human creams. I know with certainty that I have never administered lidocaine to any of my horses, ever, and that this has to be an environmental contamination. The amount involved would not affect a horse's performance.

“I must serve a 10- day suspension for this infraction.

“I am grateful to the CHRB for working with me to settle this matter and I will take the suspension and look forward to moving on from this unfortunate incident.

“As a trainer it's easy to accept the 'pats on the backs' and accolades, but we have to also accept the 'less than' moments, equally as well.”

The post ‘The Buck Stops With Me’: O’Neill To Serve 10-Day Ban For Lidocaine Positive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Gamine Disqualified From Third-Place Finish In Kentucky Oaks, Baffert Fined $1,500

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has released its official ruling on Gamine's positive test in the Kentucky Oaks, disqualifying the filly from her third-place finish and issuing her trainer, Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, a $1,500 fine after he waived his right to a hearing.

Gamine's prize money from that race, $120,000, was ordered redistributed, while fourth-place finisher Speech has been elevated to third.

Gamine's post-race test after her third in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs showed a positive for the Class C drug betamethasone. It was the Into Mischief filly's second positive test of 2020: Gamine ran on Arkansas Derby day (May 2) at Oaklawn Park, winning an allowance race, but subsequently tested positive for lidocaine and has since been disqualified.

Another Baffert-trained runner, Arkansas Derby winner Charlatan, also tested positive for lidocaine and was disqualified.

Baffert plans to appeal the Arkansas rulings, but will not appeal the ruling by the KHRC, attorney Craig Robertson told bloodhorse.com.

Gamine developed into one of the top 3-year-old fillies of the year, earning an Eclipse Award as the top female sprinter after wins in the G1 Test and G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The post Gamine Disqualified From Third-Place Finish In Kentucky Oaks, Baffert Fined $1,500 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Still No Hearing Date Set For Hall Of Famer Baffert Over Gamine’s Oaks Positive

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to take action against Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on the positive test of Eclipse finalist Gamine, reports the Courier-Journal, even though the positive was confirmed via split sample months ago.

In the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs, the Into Mischief filly finished third but later tested positive for betamethasone.

No hearing date has been set for Baffert with the KHRC, the trainer's attorney Craig Robertson confirmed. A public records request by the Courier-Journal shows that the Oaks day split sample result was returned on Nov. 5, and Robertson was notified the same day.

Robertson said he has yet to schedule a hearing date with the KHRC.

In total, Baffert had four runners return positive tests in 2020. Gamine ran on Arkansas Derby day (May 2) at Oaklawn Park, winning an allowance race, but subsequently tested positive for lidocaine and has since been disqualified. Charlatan, the Baffert-trained winner of the Arkansas Derby, was also disqualified over a lidocaine positive, and Baffert's attorney released a statement blaming the positives on a back-pain patch worn by his assistant trainer. The fourth was a cough suppressant in a runner at Santa Anita, also said to be a case of environmental contamination.

Penalties from the KHRC over betamethasone could include Baffert facing a suspension of up to 60 days and a fine up to $5,000, depending on whether the stewards decide the Oaks day positive is the trainer's first, second, or third offense in 365 days.