More than four years after the 2020 Saudi Cup took place, the Saudi Arabia Jockey Club Management Committee has officially disqualified Maximum security from the $20 million race and declared Midnight Bisou winner and took home the race’s $10 million first prize.
The move comes after the JCSA issued a type recommendation this winter.
An investigation into the allegations against then-Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis took place this May at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh. Servis and/or his legal representatives were invited to attend remotely but chose not to, according to Saudi Cup officials.
Servis was sentenced to four years in prison last summer for his role in a conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and deliver adulterated or mislabeled performance-enhancing drugs to racehorses. He was among more than two dozen individuals indicted in early March 2020, many of them for violations involving multiple horses over multiple years. The indictments came shortly after the Saudi Cup on Feb. 29.
Two months later, the Saudi Jockey Club announced it would withhold Maximum Security’s prize money pending an investigation, after Servis was indicted in the United States.
The disciplinary committee determined that the allegations against Servis were proven and imposed sanctions. For Maximum Security and the Saudi Cup, the standings were changed to reflect Maximum Security’s disqualification and prize money for the race was redistributed accordingly. All horses finishing behind Maximum Security were moved up one finishing position.
Servis has been banned from racing for life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Country house was ranked first after a 22-minute stewards’ inquiry. The disqualification cost Wests the winner’s bonus of $1.86 million.
Full Saudi Cup decision can be found from JCSA online.
The report found that Servis used the veterinary services of Dr. Joseph Migliacci to treat his horses during January and February 2020. The JCSA report said Servis had “two suspicious treatments” and “significantly underreported treatments and treatments on health declaration forms” in violation of entry rules.
Managers have dismissed concerns from those involved with Maximum Security that managers’ review of court transcripts is oral evidence and has never been challenged.
“Coolmore asserts that there is no specific evidence in the US criminal proceedings that PEDs were used by Maximum Security in the six months prior to the race and that Mr Servis was not charged with any PED use,” the report said. “The Stewards Committee does not dispute this and reinforces the fact that Mr Servis was charged with using prohibited substances contrary to the conditions of his participation in the race.”
These include claims of illegal use of SGF-1000 and/or clenbuterol. SGF-1000 has been promoted as a vasodilator capable of promoting endurance, stamina, and lower heart rates in horses. Clenbuterol has been more restricted due to producing results similar to anabolic steroids.
The removal and redistribution of prize money, which has not yet been updated on Equibase, significantly changes the official earnings of Maximum Security and Midnight Bisou and will result in some of the sire’s statistics being adjusted to reflect the earnings of their offspring. Maximum Security, the 3-year-old sire who won the Eclipse in 2019, is New Year’s Eve man standing at Shadai Horse Station in Japan, and Midnight Bisou The oldest female champion of 2019, was of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa’s Midnight Lute . The change in ranking and earnings will make Midnight Lute the second-ranked horse in 2020.
With her being awarded the top prize and her record improving to 14-for-22, Midnight Bisou’s earnings will increase to nearly $14 million, while Maximum Security’s earnings will drop to $2.4 million. He now has nine official wins in 14 starts.
A JCSA spokesperson said, “JCSA is pleased that, following a comprehensive disciplinary process, the allegations affecting the outcome of the 2020 Saudi Cup have now been determined by the Supervisory Committee following an appropriate investigation. JCSA will comply with the Supervisory Committee’s decision.”
A JCSA spokesperson congratulated “the relationship of Midnight Bisou, the only mare to win the Saudi Cup to date,” and added that the JCSA would not comment further on the investigation and this disqualification.
In response to having to wait four years for a disqualification order, Bloom joked: “It was easy.”
Continuing to describe his feelings more seriously, he said: “I’m struggling to find the right words, but obviously satisfaction, excitement. More than anything, I’m really proud of the mare. I mean, talk about putting a stamp on an incredible career—what a way to do it, by beating the world’s richest horse race with the best male handicaps. That’s the icing on the cake for a fairytale ride with Midnight Bisou.”
“The compilation of such a large amount of evidence from various sources would certainly have taken a considerable amount of time and thus delayed the scheduling of this hearing,” the JCSA report said.
“Do I think it took more than four years? No, but I can tell you it was worth the wait when we got there,” Bloom said.
Robert Gearty contributed to this article through his judgment in the Servis case.
