Richard Baltas | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baltas Hearing Rescheduled, Entries Denied by Los Al Stewards

Last month, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) issued a complaint against trainer Richard Baltas alleging that between Apr. 15 and May 8 this year, 23 horses in his care had been administered on race-day a substance containing the plant extracts higenamine and paenol in violation of the board's rules.

A hearing on the complaint, originally scheduled for early and then possibly late July, is now set for Aug. 3 with the Del Mar stewards beginning at 9 a.m., according to CHRB spokesperson, Mike Marten, in an email Friday afternoon.

In that same email, the CHRB wrote that Baltas–whose license remains active pending the hearing–had attempted to enter horses during the daytime Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos, but that the stewards denied those entries on June 28.

That meet runs June 25 through July 10.

The stewards' decision was based on two CHRB rules, one for good cause and the second giving stewards' discretion over entries and declarations, wrote Marten.

“All entries and declarations are under the supervision of the stewards, and they may, without notice, refuse the entries of any person or the transfer of any entries, and they may also, in their discretion, limit entries by providing that no horse shall be listed for more than one race in any one day,” CHRB Rule 1580 states.

According to Marten, Baltas has appealed that decision by the stewards, with an appeal hearing not yet scheduled.

The TDN reached out to Baltas by text but did not receive a response before publication.

According to the original complaint, surveillance video at Santa Anita caught Baltas' employees allegedly administering the substance to the horses on the days they were entered to race.

In California, trainers face tight restrictions about what medications and supplements can be given to a horse within 48 and 24 hours of a race.

A subsequent analysis of the substance by the University of California, Davis, allegedly found the presence of higenamine and paenol, both of which are plant extracts.

According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Higenamine is a chemical found in a variety of plants, and can act as an anti-asthmatic to open up airways.

Higenamine is also becoming more commonly found in dietary supplements for human athletes, as per USADA's website.

A CHRB investigation was triggered on May 8, when the Baltas-trained Noble perfection was a late scratch from the 10th race at Santa Anita.

At the same time, 1/ST Racing, which operates Santa Anita, banned the trainer from running and working horses at 1/ST-owned facilities. On May 7, the Baltas-trained Speedcuber suffered a sesamoid injury, and was euthanized two-days later.

Baltas had no runners at Santa Anita between 1/ST's announcement and the end of the meet, on June 19.

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Report: Baltas Hearing Postponed Until At Least July 31

With a potential fine or suspension looming, California trainer Richard Baltas will not face a scheduled hearing with stewards at Los Alamitos Friday after Darrell Vienna, the trainer's lawyer, successfully asked for a postponement. The story was first reported by Daily Racing Form.

Vienna told DRF Monday that he has received a 30-day continuance in the case from Los Alamitos stewards. A new hearing has not been scheduled, with the earliest it can come being July 31 at Del Mar.

“I didn't receive the full complaint until seven days before the hearing,” Vienna said. “In order to prepare an adequate defense, I need time.”

It was reported last week that 23 horses trained by Baltas, who was banned from Santa Anita and other 1/ST Racing tracks with scant initial explanation in early May, were allegedly administered substances on race day in violation of California Horse Racing Board rules. Baltas was ordered to appear before the Los Alamitos stewards by the CHRB, which opened an investigation into the trainer May 8.

The postponement of Friday's hearing leaves up in the air whether or not Baltas will be allowed to stable and start horses at the Del Mar summer meet, which starts July 22.

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CHRB Issues Complaint Against Richard Baltas

Between April 15 and May 8 this year, 23 horses trained by Richard Baltas were allegedly administered a substance on race-day in violation of the California Horse Racing Board's (CHRB) rules, according to a complaint dated Tuesday, June 21.

The complaint states that surveillance video caught Baltas's employees allegedly administering the substance on the days they were entered to race.

In California, trainers face tight restrictions about what medications and supplements can be given to a horse within 48 hours of a race.

Baltas has been ordered to appear at a hearing at Los Alamitos before the board of stewards on July 1.

“Between the dates of 4/15/2022 to 5/8/2022, 23 horses trained by RICHARD BALTAS were administered a substance on days they were entered into races. Surveillance video captured all administrations by employees of BALTAS's barn. The substance was analyzed by University of California, Davis, who reported the presence of Higenamine and Paenol,” the complaint states.

According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Higenamine is a chemical found in a variety of plants, and can act as an anti-asthmatic to open up airways.

According to USADA, higenamine is becoming more commonly found in dietary supplements for athletes. Paenol is also a plant extract.

Neither are specifically classified by the Association for Racetrack Commissioners International (ARCI) uniform classification guidelines.

TDN reached out to both the CHRB and to Baltas's attorney, Darrell Vienna. Both declined to comment on an open investigation.

A CHRB investigation had been ongoing since May 8, when the Baltas-trained Noble Perfection was a late scratch from the 10^th race at Santa Anita.

“We are conducting an investigation into matters concerning trainer Richard Baltas,” 1/ST CEO, Aidan Butler, explained via text message at the time. “Pending completion of that investigation and any final decision based on the results, horses trained by Mr. Baltas are not permitted to enter races at 1/ST Racing venues nor engage in timed works.”

1/ST's prohibition currently remains in place.

According to the complaint, Baltas has similarly been charged with violating rule 1887 (a)—the absolute insurer rule—a total of 23 times.

“The trainer is the absolute insurer of and responsible for the condition of the horses entered in a race, regardless of the acts of third parties, except as otherwise provided in this article. If the chemical or other analysis of urine or blood test samples or other tests, prove positive showing the presence of any prohibited drug substance defined in Rule 1843.1 of this division, the trainer of the horse may be fined, his/her license suspended or revoked, or be ruled off,” the rule states.

“In addition, the owner of the horse, foreman in charge of the horse, groom, and any other person shown to have had the care or attendance of the horse, may be fined, his/her license suspended, revoked, or be ruled off. The owner of a ship-in horse is the joint-absolute insurer of and is equally responsible for the condition of the horse entered in a race,” the rule adds.

Baltas likely faces a potential suspension or fine. In July of 2019, trainer Bill Morey received a 45-day suspension after two horses in his Santa Anita stable were illegally administered a supplement on race-day.

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Weekly Rulings: Mar. 15 – 21

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 03/17/2022
Licensee: Flavien Prat, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Flavien Prat is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on Mar. 13, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: Two steward hearings on 03/18/2022 and 03/19/2022
Licensee: Richard Baltas, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine and assessed 1/2 point.
Also, disqualification and purse redistribution
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Richard Baltas, who worked the horse Lookin at Sweetie for removal from the Veterinarian's List on Jan. 3, 2022, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $1,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations, expires Mar. 18, 2023) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rules #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h) (Veterinarian's List), #1843(a)(b)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1 (Prohibited Drug Substances–Methocarbamol [Class 4] – second offense in the last 365 days).
Pursuant to a formal hearing held Mar. 18, 2022, it is hereby ordered that Lookin at Sweetie, who finished first in the third race at Santa Anita on Jan. 21, 2022, be disqualified and deemed unplaced in accordance with CHRB rule #1592 (Ineligible Horse to be Disqualified). It is further ordered that the purse money awarded to owners George and Martha Schwary and earned by trainer Richard Baltas ($1,440.00) and Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera ($1,280.00) be distributed in accordance with the revised order of finish, by the Paymaster of Purses at Santa Anita Park.

Revised order of finish is as follows:
1st–Cayton Kid
2nd–Elana My Princess
3rd–Life in Paradise
4th–Mongolian Dream
5th–Cat Lady Blues

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 03/20/2022
Licensee: Juan Hernandez, jockey
Penalty: $500
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Juan Hernandez is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the first race at Santa Anita Park on Mar. 19, 2022.

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