LOUISVILLE – Rick Dutrow Jr., the leading trainer in New York, has reached a settlement with the state Racing and Wagering Board to serve a 120-day suspension and pay a $5,000 fine for several past violations, two of them involving prohibited medications.
The suspension kicks in June 1.
Dutrow led the recently concluded Aqueduct meet with 23 wins from 88 starters. He will saddle heavy favorite Sis City, owned in part by Yankee skipper Joe Torre, in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Dutrow was suspended 45 days and fined $3,000 for a positive test for the drug Mepivacaine, found in the sample of his horse Farmer Jake after the sixth race at Aqueduct on April 27, 2003.
On Jan. 11, 2004, his horse Starship Smokester raced with Clenbuterol in his system in the second race at Aqueduct; for that infraction, Dutrow will pay a $2,000 fine and serve 15 days.
The third penalty, involving a violation of the rules governing claiming and reselling horses, took place in May and June of 2004, for which Dutrow was banned 60 days.
The final 60 days will be stayed, however, under the conditions that Dutrow pays the fines and does not commit any significant violation of NYSRWB rules during the next year.
“During the period of said suspension,” the board ruled, “he shall not participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing directly or indirectly, and shall be denied privileges and use of the grounds of all New York State racetracks.”
Stacey Clifford, spokesperson for the NYSRWB, said, “The Board continues to take a firm stance against the inappropriate use of equine drugs and believes strongly about holding people accountable for their violations.”
Dutrow could not be reached for comment.