Tag: Parx

HISA `In Communications’ With Parx Over Standing Water on Track

After heavy rains forced Parx to abandon the last race on Tuesday, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) said it was “in communication” with the racetrack after race replays showed that Wednesday's races were conducted with a large pool of standing water on the inside rail in the stretch.

“HISA has been made aware of the concerning video of the standing water on the track surface at PARX and is gathering more information about the current surface testing metrics at the track,” a HISA spokesman said. “We are in communication with racetrack management to better understand how the surface could have been deemed safe for training and racing today.”

A smaller puddle was visible on the backstretch, with a far larger one in the homestretch. The races were conducted without incident.

The post HISA `In Communications’ With Parx Over Standing Water on Track appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Falsified Delaware Workout Leads To $2,000 Fine

The stewards at Delaware Park have fined trainer Don Bryant, Jr. $2,000 for a series of “not conducting business in a proper manner” infractions that started with the falsification of a workout for an 0-for-12 maiden-claiming gelding he reportedly owns that hadn't raced in nearly a year.

According to the June 15 ruling, the stewards “received evidence that Trainer Bryant falsified a workout” for the 4-year-old gelding Dondada (Klimt) on May 10, 2023, at Delaware Park.

Dondada had not started since running second at Delaware on June 30, 2022.

The ruling further stated that, “Bryant did not have Dondada in his charge at the time horse was entered on June 3, 2023,” and that one week later, on June 10, “Bryant provided a false reason to the Stewards for a scratch [for] Dondada.”

A voicemail message left with the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission seeking details about the case and whether Bryant has appealed his penalty did not result in a return call prior to deadline for this story.

Bryant, 35, has trained since 2009 according to Equibase, compiling a 10-for-174 lifetime record. This year his mark is 1-for-14 with three horses who have raced at Parx and Delaware.

Beyond a $100 fine for necessitating a late scratch at Mountaineer Park in 2021, Bryant's rulings record in the database at thoroughbredrulings.com maintained by The Jockey Club shows no other infractions.

The post Falsified Delaware Workout Leads To $2,000 Fine appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Ninetyprcentmaddie Possible for Wood Memorial

LC Racing's Ninetyprcentmaddie (Weigelia), who romped home by 9 3/4 lengths in last Monday's City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx, could make a return trip to New York for the Apr. 8 GII Wood Memorial. The bay colt was eased when making his graded stakes debut–and first start away from Parx–in the Feb. 11 GIII Withers S.

“He came out of [the City of Brotherly Love S.] really well and happy,” trainer Butch Reid, Jr. said. “I was happy to see him come back after that effort in the Withers and be no worse for wear. The jockey [Abner Adorno] said he was kind of choking up down the backside last time and maybe he flipped his pallet, but he didn't show any signs of that this time.”

Of a potential start in the Wood, Reid added, “It's possible. “There are several races around that time and we wonder if he handled that surface there, so we've got some questions to think about. But we'll see how the races shape up and make our decision from there. I don't think shipping is his best thing, but he'll probably have to go on the road again for his next start. We will probably ship him in a little earlier to get him used to his surroundings.”

The post Ninetyprcentmaddie Possible for Wood Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pennsylvania Commission Rescinds Ness Penalties From ’22

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission (PSHRC) has rescinded an Aug. 18, 2022, ruling against trainer Jamie Ness that suspended him six months and fined him $5,000 for a positive drug test for bufotenine in a winning horse at Parx.

Bufotenine is a psychoactive substance often referred to as “toad venom” because one of its sources is the skin of toads from the genus Bufo. In humans, it has been used for centuries in traditional forms of medicine as both a hallucinogen and a purported aphrodisiac. Starting in the 1990s, it briefly cycled into popularity as a street drug of abuse in the United States because of its ability to produce effects similar to those from mescaline and psilocybin mushrooms.

But another source of bufotenine is reed canary grass, a pasture plant. Ness's attorney, Drew Mollica, had argued that inadvertent contamination could have been a factor as the source of the traces of bufotenine that showed up in the positive post-race blood test of Crabs N Beer (Blofeld), who won a starter-optional claimer by 2 1/2 lengths as the 3-5 favorite on Feb. 23, 2022.

“Common sense and science carried the day, and a possible career-threatening suspension was rescinded,” Mollica told TDN. “The system is often draconian and unfair, but in this instance justice was served.”

The rescinded ruling, dated Mar. 6, 2023, reads as follows:

“The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) does not specify a threshold level for the substance Bufotenine. Based upon the PSHRC's analysis and investigation, the Commission has determined that the proper procedure would be to utilize the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) recommended residual limit of 10mcg/ml in urine. Based on the IFHA established threshold level, the finding in Sample No. 390762 will not be determined as a positive result. As such, there is no violation of the Commission's Rules of Racing. Therefore, the Parx Board of Stewards Ruling No. 22226PP is hereby RESCINDED.”

Mollica explained the appeals process this way:

“We appealed on numerous levels. We did not go to a hearing, but they investigated it, and this is what they came up with. Bufotenine is a known contaminant, and our premise was it's culled in urine. They never took urine from this horse. They only took blood. And we argued that it was a known contaminant, and it was a low number in blood, and it should never have been a positive at all.”

Ness is currently third in the North American training standings so far this year, and seventh based on earnings. He is currently atop the Parx leaderboard in both wins and earnings for 2023.

The post Pennsylvania Commission Rescinds Ness Penalties From ’22 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights