According to a ruling released Wednesday, trainer Orlando Noda has been fined $5,000 by the New York stewards for “action detrimental to the best interest of racing.”
According to a report in the Daily Racing Form, which cited multiple sources, Noda was seen being overly aggressive with a horse during morning exercise recently in Saratoga.
When reached by the TDN, Noda declined to comment and referred questions to his attorney, Drew Mollica.
“The commission rendered a fine and the allegation is not clear to me yet,” Mollica said. “I am still investigating, but I have spoken to Mr. Noda and he vehemently denies any actions that could have caused such a sanction. We are in the fact-gathering stage right now and we will defend this vigorously. At no time did he ever do anything to suggests a sanction of this magnitude.”
Noda's lone runner on the Thursday card at Saratoga, A Colt Named Susie (Frost Giant), was scratched, but the DRF reported that had nothing to do with Noda's fine. Rather, the horse was scratched because no one from his stable was present when the track veterinarian showed up to administer Lasix.
The ruling cites three regulations that the stewards used to assess a fine, including Rule 4022.11, which states: “The stewards have power to regulate and control the conduct of all officials and of all owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and other persons attendant on horses.”
Noda has been training only since 2019, a year in which he won 11 races. He is having the best year of his career this year, with 26 wins from 161 starters for a winning rate of 16%. He is 4-for-30 at the current Saratoga meet.
Wednesday's ruling was the first for Noda since 2019, when he was fined on two separate occasions for minor offenses.
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