The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has ordered trainer Patricia Farro to be suspended for four years after two of her runners tested positive for cobalt salts. Pennsylvania-based Farro, a trainer with 30 years of experience, has since served a period of disqualification in which horses were taken from her barn and placed in the hands of other training.
Cobalt salts belong to the erythropoietic group and are listed as S2 on the HISA list of prohibited substances. This substance is said to stimulate red blood cell production as a performance enhancer.
The first Farro cadet to fail the form after the race was plane who won the race for power on February 6 at Parx racing. At the same track on February 28, Win directly was found to have cobalt salt in his body after catching a girl fighting for his rights. Both runners were disqualified and a total of $33,600 in earnings was lost; Each horse is ineligible for a period of six months starting from the date of testing following an unsuccessful race. In addition, Farro was also required by HIWU to pay a fine of $50,000.
Farro becomes the third Parx Racing trainer to be suspended for cobalt salts under HIWU regulations. Recently, Monte Gelrod was suspended for 18 months and fined $12,500 when charged. ratify failed a post-race test for cobalt salts on February 19 at Parx and trainer Mario A. Dominguez is currently serving a two-year suspension following a positive result in the May 24, 2023 race.
A trainer to more than 1,900 winners, Farro was inducted into the Parx Racing Hall of Fame in 2021.
It is not yet known whether Farro will appeal HIWU’s final decision.
