Veterinarian In Laoban Case Suspended 90 Days, Ordered To Pay $30,000

Veterinarian Dr. Heather Wharton has had her veterinary license suspended 90 days and has been ordered to pay $30,000 in administrative fines for her role in the death of the stallion Laoban, according to a report from LEO Weekly.

Wharton was working for WinStar Farm in May 2021, at which time Laoban was standing stud at WinStar and was showing reduced interest in breeding mares. Writer Tim Sullivan noted that a report by the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners showed Laoban had been diagnosed with arthritis in his neck which made breeding uncomfortable. The report indicated the horse had been treated with shockwave and anti-inflammatories and showed initial improvement, but his reluctance returned.

Wharton injected Laoban with a vitamin cocktail referred to as The Black Shot in the hopes of stimulating energy. Less than a minute after receiving the injection surveillance cameras showed the horse went into distress and died quickly.

Cypress Creek Equine LLC later filed a civil suit in Fayette County Circuit Court in Kentucky against insurance companies which refused to pay out mortality coverage on the horse due to the circumstances of his death. That case remains unresolved.

Court documents prepared by the legal team for one of the insurance companies later revealed that the contents of The Black Shot given by Wharton included four vitamin substances, three of which were expired, one of which was not labeled for use in horses, and one of which was given at a dose well above the recommended amount. One or more of the ingredients was supposed to be given intramuscularly but the mixture was instead given intravenously.

Wharton also agreed to complete at least four hours of continuing education and will receive a reprimand in her record in the state veterinary licensing system.

A statement by WinStar CEO Elliott Walden indicated Wharton would remain on staff at WinStar and that the farm “will continue to review treatment protocols.”