Horsemen’s Rep Says Vitali Meth Positive is Environmental Contamination

In his fight to get out of as one-year suspension after a horse of his tested positive for methamphetamine, controversial trainer Marcus Vitali will have at least one person in his corner. Todd Mostoller, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents horsemen at Penn National and Presque Isle Downs, said that the methamphetamine positive was a result of environmental contamination and that Vital should not have been suspended

“This is somebody who did absolutely nothing wrong,” Mostoller said.

On Friday, the Pennsylvania Racing Commission published its ruling in which Vitali was suspended for one year and fined $10,000 after the horse Single Lady (Shanghai Bobby) tested positive for d-methamphetamine after winning a Aug. 21 maiden special weight race at Presque Isle Downs. Vitali has appealed the suspension.

Mostoller believes the filly came into contact with someone who had been using the drug, and that's how it got into her system.

“The bottom line is that this is environmental contamination,” he said. “There have been a number of methamphetamine positives in Pennsylvania. They've all been at the extremely small picogram level. No one gave methamphetamine to a horse. It's in the environment around us. It's a problem. And our industry has yet to really deal with the problem.”

Mostoller said there have been “three or four” other methamphetamine positives between Presque Isle Downs and Penn National in recent months and that in all other cases the stewards found there were extenuating circumstances and the trainers were not held responsible. The TDN was not able to confirm Mostoller's contention.

In 2017, a Peter Miller-trained horse tested positive for methamphetamine after running in the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National. The Pennsylvania Racing Commission ruled that there were “mitigating circumstances” and fined Miller $1,500 but did not suspend him.

In 2016, five horses at Lone Star Park tested positive for meth. The Texas Racing Commission concluded that the horses were contaminated by their handlers and, while the horses were disqualified, the trainers were not penalized

Mostoller hinted that Vitali, who has been in and put of trouble for years, might be treated differently than others.

“This is absurd. It goes beyond common sense,” he said. “Unfortunately for Vitali, he is a hot-button name.”

But Mostoller went on to explain that in the other recent meth cases, it was confirmed that someone handling the horses had used meth. That has not happened with Single Lady.

“In this case, nobody tried to find the source,” he said. “No employees were tested. So, you're certainly not going to find the source of environmental contamination if you don't look for it. This is under appeal and we'll see where it goes from there.”

Single Lady is owned by Carolyn Vogel, 80, who races under the name of Cross Sabres Farm. Prior to Vitali filing for an appeal, Single Lady was placed on the stewards' list for 90 days.  Vogel has been one of Vitali's most loyal owners and has stuck by him despite the trainer's history. She said she has seven horses with him and when asked if she intended to keep them with Vitali she responded, “I will stick by him until further notice.”

When asked what she likes about Vitali, she responded: “He is very good with legs and he is very hands on. He doesn't have too many horses and he is not real expensive. He makes it more affordable and fun.”

Is she concerned about his reputation?

“I don't think he is a cheater,” she said. “He might push the envelope, but he doesn't cheat.”

Vitali is currently racing at Turf Paradise and, due to the appeal, has remained eligible to race there. He has horses entered there on Tuesday and Friday. Both are owned by Vogel.

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‘Dramatic’ Purse Account Improvements at Penn Nat’l, Presque Isle

Purse account revenues from gaming have improved “dramatically” at both the Penn National and Presque Isle Downs racinos in the past six weeks, enabling Penn National to add an extra weekday of racing starting June 8 and Presque Isle to potentially tack on race dates at the end of the meet that begins July 5.

The news came in the form of a one-page memo to members issued Friday by Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Todd Mostoller.

“For the first time since the pandemic started, we have some clarity on our ability to fund purses at the current level for the remainder of the year,” Mostoller wrote May 21 about Penn National. “Barring another outbreak, we are very confident the purse account can fund three-day-per-week racing for the remainder of 2021.”

Tuesdays will join Wednesdays and Fridays in Penn National's three-day weekly (eight races nightly) schedule.

At Presque Isle, Mostoller wrote that “should this trend continue, we will look to add race days to the end of the meet above and beyond the currently scheduled 52-day meet.”

Mostoller added that the signing of a one-year extension to the current live racing agreement with Presque Isle is “imminent” and that “the parties have agreed in principle and the language is currently being drafted.”

The stable area at Presque Isle opens June 14.

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Pennsylvania Commission Bans Lasix In 2-Year-Old, Graded Stakes Races

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has banned the use of race-day furosemide (Lasix) in both 2-year-old races and graded stakes races at the state's Thoroughbred tracks, effective June 1, 2021.

“In order to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses and to properly safeguard the integrity of racing, the Commission adopted this policy of limiting the use of Lasix as set forth below in accordance with national standards,” reads the Administrative Policy Notice distributed by the PSHRC.

In addition, an update from Pennsylvania HBPA executive director Todd Mostoller indicated that Tuesday racing will be added to the schedule at Penn National beginning June 8, with races being held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The post Pennsylvania Commission Bans Lasix In 2-Year-Old, Graded Stakes Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Penn Mile Returns In 2021; Race Scheduled For May 28 At Penn National

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course announced today that the $300,000 Grade 2 Penn Mile and the $100,000 Penn Oaks will return again to the Grantville, Pennsylvania turf course after a one-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 shut down. The 2021 Penn Mile card will be contested on a Friday for the first time with the event slated for May 28.

“We are excited to once again offer the Penn Mile as it signals a return to normalcy,” said Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operation for Penn National. “The race has quickly established itself on the national racing calendar by bringing the best horses, horsemen and jockeys to central Pennsylvania while also helping to establish some of the highest betting handles in Penn National history.”

The Penn Mile, first run in 2013, quickly achieved Grade 3 status in 2015 and was minted as a Grade 2 in 2017 by attracting notable Grade 1 winners such as Catch a Glimpse, Bobby's Kitten and Force the Pass. The 2019 edition of the Penn Mile produced the second largest betting handle in Penn National's 49 year history with the top five all-time wagering handles at Penn National Race Course all having occurred on the Penn Mile racing program.

“We are pleased with the success of the Penn Mile and appreciate the recognition it brings for our racing program, as a whole,” said Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania HBPA.

First Post for the day is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. EDT, with the Penn Oaks, also at one mile on the turf, being run at approximately 7:15 P.M. and the Penn Mile at 7:45 P.M.

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