The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has posted updated banned substance findings on its website, with two trainers not previously reported by BloodHorse facing alleged violations for their horses initially testing positive for methamphetamine. The cases have not yet been adjudicated.
California trainer Hector Palma is accused of a violation of rule 3212, the presence of a banned substance and/or its metabolites or markers, involving the horse Baladi . The Royalty Stable and Lourdes Lepe-owned gelding ran fourth at Del Mar in a claiming race July 30, a date HIWU lists as the violation date.
Preston faces the same alleged rule violation involving Kristine Kaufeld’s Fly Home , a July 20 maiden claiming winner at Belterra Park in Ohio. Preston and Palma are under active provisional suspensions, and the horses involved have also been provisionally suspended.
Since HIWU began enforcing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program this spring, eight horses are alleged to have tested positive for methamphetamine. HIWU has posted no resolutions as having been reached in the cases.
Methamphetamine, or “meth,” is an illegal stimulant that has contributed to wide-ranging human drug abuse problems. Drugs and medications used by people can increase the possibility of equine drug testing contamination.
HIWU has also updated its website to list Nevada Litfin as facing multiple controlled medication violations while under a provisional suspension. BloodHorse reported Aug. 24 that stewards at Canterbury Park summarily suspended him Aug. 16 for actions detrimental to the integrity of racing.
