By T. D. Thornton
Third-leading Oaklawn Park trainer Brad Cox was fined $1,500 by the Arkansas Racing Commission Thursday for failing to heed a Mar. 13 stewards' order to accept back into his care a horse that had been claimed away from him, but suffered an injury during the running of a race.
Citing ARC Rule 2434, the stewards had voided the Mar. 12 claim of Uptown Tempo (Temple City) after a commission veterinarian certified that the Cox-trained colt had bowed a left front tendon while finishing ninth as the beaten favorite in a $12,500 maiden claimer. According to the original Mar. 13 stewards' ruling, a pre-race commission exam deemed Uptown Tempo “sound” with “no signs of any problems with his legs.” But the colt was “noticeably in some distress” leaving the track and was “dead lame” an hour afterward. Rule 2434 gives stewards the discretion to void the claims of horses who suffer in-race injuries.
In addition to the fine, Cox was ordered to reimburse owners Garylle Stewart and Murray Duncan for eight days worth of expenses incurred while caring for Uptown Tempo until the horse could be returned to Cox's custody. The claiming price, plus tax, has been returned to the accounts of the claimants. Cox has three days to appeal the ruling.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
