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Parx Hall Of Fame Trainer Vega Summarily Suspended After Loaded Syringes Found In Barn

Owner/trainer Ricardo Vega, who trains as Richard Vega Racing Stable, has been summarily suspended after multiple loaded needles and syringes were found in his tack room at Parx. The items were discovered as part of a large-scale raid at the facility last week.

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission issued the summary suspension on May 24, following the raid. The next day, three of Vega's horses were stewards' scratches from the May 25 race card at Parx. A board of stewards hearing was held on May 27, where officials voted to uphold the summary suspension issued earlier in the week.

The summary suspension cited two violations of state code — one that prohibits the possession of hypodermic needles, syringes, or injectable substances by non-veterinarians, and another that states “a licensee shall not, alone or in concert with another person, engage in inappropriate, illegal or unethical conduct which violates the Commission's rules and regulations of racing, is inconsistent with the best interests and integrity of racing or otherwise undermines the general public's faith public perception and confidence in the racing industry.”

Vega is denied access to the grounds of Pennsylvania commission-sanctioned tracks in both his capacity as an owner and as a trainer. The May 27 decision to uphold the summary suspension is subject to appeal. Attorney Alan Pincus, who represents Vega, did not respond to calls for comment.

Vega is a member of the Parx Hall of Fame and has trained winners of over 1,100 races to earnings of more than $19.5 million. He took out his trainer's license in 1992 after starting in the business as a hotwalker in Florida in the 1980s and working as an assistant to Al Hinson. He is a graded stakes-placed trainer and is the conditioner of Dulce Realidad, Philadelphia Park's Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in 2008 and 1999 Philadelphia Park Claiming Horse of the Year Open Ice Hit. Among other clients, Vega has trained horses for Dun Roamin Farm, the nom de course for Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association president Sal DeBunda, who represents the THA as a member of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.

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Dr. Kerry Peterson Named Equine Medical Director For Indiana Horse Racing Commission

The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) recently hired Kerry Peterson, D.V.M as their Equine Medical Director. Dr. Peterson, a seasoned veterinarian, brings with her over fifteen years of experience with equine and small animal private practice and regulatory veterinary medicine.

She most recently served as the Medical Director and Veterinarian of Pet Wellness Clinics, which has nine locations in central Indiana. In addition, her past regulatory experience includes Director of Animal Health Programs for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health.

“We are excited to have Dr. Peterson join our team at the IHRC. It is essential to have full time guidance from a talented individual who has the necessary education and background to assist our agency in animal and safety welfare. Dr. Peterson will serve as an available regulatory resource in working with racing officials, practicing veterinarians and horsemen regarding current rules, proposed medication rules and assist the commission in navigating the safety and animal welfare issues being proposed nationally. This position is critical to Indiana maintaining the high level of integrity and standards we have built within our racing industry over the years,” stated IHRC's Executive Director Deena Pitman.

In her role as Equine Medical Director, Dr. Peterson will be providing oversight for all Commission related veterinary and equine health needs including testing procedures, compliance, enforcement of commission regulations and spearheading new programs affecting equine welfare. She will be dividing her time between Indiana's two pari-mutual tracks as well as the Commission's Indianapolis office and can be contacted at KePeterson@hrc.IN.gov.

“I'm excited to join the Indiana Horse Racing Commission as their Equine Medical Director. Horse racing has always been a passion of mine. I'm looking forward to working with the Indiana horse racing industry stakeholders to help improve the safety and welfare of the horses and the integrity of the sport,” said Dr. Peterson about her new role.

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Robert Hartman New Chair Of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program

The University of Arizona is pleased to welcome Robert Hartman as the new Chair of the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). Hartman, a graduate of the RTIP, brings a broad range of experience to the role. For over a decade, he held marketing and management positions at the New York Racing Association, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. His previous experience also includes serving as the Associate Athletic Director at the University of California, Berkeley and CEO of the American Contract Bridge League.

Hartman sees new possibilities for the RTIP students going forward.

“A traditional on-campus four-year education experience may not be the right fit for some prospective RTIP students,” Hartman said. “We need to meet students where they are by developing offerings tailored to fit their needs. We will explore ideas such as additional remote learning opportunities, certificate programs, international programs and continuing education programs.

“Listening to the needs of racing industry stakeholders will be an important first step as we begin to reshape the Program,” Hartman continued. “The Global Symposium on Racing has been the premier industry gathering for the exchange of ideas and best practices. We plan to continue to build on that success.”

To learn more about the RTIP, please visit www.ua-rtip.org.

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Trainer Faith Wilson Saddles First Winner With ‘Project Horse’ At Her Home Track

Ever wonder how a Thoroughbred trainer celebrates their first career victory?

For 33-year-old Faith Wilson, it was cake at home with her two children, ages five and two.

Wilson, the daughter of former trainers, recorded her first victory in her first year as a trainer – and in her 14th start – when La Luisa captured the ninth race, a $10,000 maiden claimer, at Monmouth Park on Monday.

“I'm beyond ecstatic, especially because this was a project horse that my husband and I own,” she said. “She was a bad bleeder when we got her. We gave her six months off and since then she has been very consistent (with a win, second and third in four starts for Wilson).

“I literally can't wait to get home and have cake with my kids and tell them about this.”

Wilson, an assistant for nine years for a variety of trainers, intended to launch her career at Monmouth Park a year ago “but we got here too late to get started.”

“So we decided to go to Tampa Downs and start there this winter,” she said. “We had a good winter at Tampa (with four seconds and a third from 13 starters) but I guess it was meant to be that I would get my first winner at my home track.”

Wilson's parents, Bill and Donna Wilson, both dabbled as trainers, with her mother spending her career (1989 through 1994) on the New Jersey circuit, which then included Garden State Park, the Meadowlands and Atlantic City Racecourse.

But Wilson will not have much time to savor the victory — though she will be able to have her cake and eat it too. She said she will be back at her barn on the Monmouth Park backstretch first thing Tuesday to tend to her seven horses.

“We have four running next weekend that I have to get ready,” she said.

La Luisa, a 3-year-old daughter of Suns Out Guns Out, returned $10.60 to win for her 1 ¼-length victory.

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