Weekly Rulings: July 4-July 10

Every week, the TDN posts a round-up of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 07/09/2024
Licensee: Blake A. Kelly, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Karter's Baby Blue on 5/15/24.
Date: 07/08/2024

Licensee: Lisa Reed, 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. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Drinking Solo, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/29/24.
Date: 07/08/2024

Licensee: James E. Nicholson Jr., 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 by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Lazaretto, who won at Parx Racing on 5/22/24.
Date: 07/08/2024

Licensee: Ricardo Bailey, 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); Treated as 1 violation with Mutiny under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Rockstar Ro, who won at Thistledown on 5/20/24.
Date: 07/03/2024

Licensee: Brittany Vandenberg, trainer
Penalty: In Both Cases, 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. Admission.
Explainer: Two medication violations for the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in samples taken from Maqamat, who won at Hawthorne on 5/26/24, and from Khozan's Success, who won at Hawthorne on 5/26/24.

Pending ADMC Violations
07/09/2024, Richard Eubanks, trainer/owner: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol—a Class B medication permitted for use with specific conditions—in a sample taken from Ugly Duckling on 6/18/24.
07/08/2024, Diana McCLure, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Triamcinolone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Arden'sluckytobe, who finished second at Laurel Park on 6/7/24.

07/05/2024, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Smokey Rain on 5/28/24.

Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Belterra
Douglas Lafrance – violation date July 5; 5250 fine and 5-day suspension

Los Alamitos
Ricardo Ramirez – violation date July 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Francisco Orduna – violation date July 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Diego Herrera – violation date July 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Ricardo Ramirez – violation date July 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Armando Aguilar – violation date July 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension
The TDN also publishes a round-up of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.
Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

NEW YORK
Aqueduct
Date: 07/05/2024
Licensee: Linda Rice, trainer/owner
Penalty: Horse Low Society owned by Linda Rice and Bruce Golden Racing is hereby disqualified from the purse and unplaced in the order of finish of the 4th race at Belmont at the Big A on July 6th, 2024 for having participated while carrying 2 pounds less weight than required by the conditions of the race. 4025.5. Disqualification __ improper practice. Any horse that has been the subject of improper practice may be disqualified for such time and for such races as the stewards shall determine. Horse Low Society was claimed from the 4th race and the claim was void for Horse being ineligible to race and returned to original owner.
Read more on the story here at the DRF.