Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 09/01/2026
Licensee: Ricardo A. Murillo, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Byk, who won at Penn National on 4/16/26.
Dates: 08/28/2026
Licensee: Frank Lucarelli, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance).
Explainer: Vet's list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Mocktails Anyone on 7/20/26.
Dates: 08/28/2026
Licensee: Alfred Michael Vucolo, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violations for the presence of Flunixin–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Joe Vittori on 7/3/26.
Dates: 08/27/2026
Licensee: Jose Camejo, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Glacial Power, who won at Belterra Park on 7/19/26.
Dates: 08/27/2026
Licensee: Ruben Fuentes, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Facenda, who finished second at Canterbury Park on 7/4/26.
Pending ADMC Violations
09/01/2026, Angel A. Quiroz, trainer: Provisional suspension for pending out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of non-inhalation Albuterol–a banned substance–in samples taken from Scootaloo and Tepeyac on 8/10/26 and
8/13/26 respectively. Quiroz is also charged with allegedly violating two HISA racetrack safety program rules.
Read more about the story here.
Read more about Albuterol here.
09/01/2026, Norm Casse, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Proctor Phantom on 8/5/26.
08/28/2026, Carla Gaines, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Can't Sleep, who finished second at Del Mar on 7/25/26.
Crop Violations
Colonial Downs
Sheldon Russell – reporting date August 29; $500 fine, one-day suspension
Delaware Park
Jesus M. Suarez – reporting date September 2; $500 fine, three-day suspension
Jorge F. Hernandez – reporting date September 1; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Barrington Bell – reporting date August 28; $250 fine, one-day suspension
Del Mar
Tyler Baze – reporting date August 29; $1,500 fine, three-day suspension, on
appeal stay requested
Tyler Baze – reporting date August 28; $500 fine, two-day suspension, on appeal
stay requested
Fairmount Park
Emmanuel Giles – reporting date August 28; three-day suspension
Thistledown
Brandon Tapara – reporting date August 31; $250 fine
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