Coach Marcus Vitali, who was facing a disciplinary hearing in March in New York, was recently given a one-year suspension and large fine by the Pennsylvania Equestrian Commission.
According to the race regulations posted by the PHRC Thoroughbred Horse Racing Department, trained by Vitali single lady tested positive for d-methamphetamine after finishing first in the first race on August 26, 2021, at Presque Isle Downs.
After the split sample confirmed the finding, the racing committee on January 27 suspended Vitali for 365 days — February 15, 2022-February. 14, 2023, and fined him $10,000. He was also assigned six points for multiple drug violations. Just those six points, not even taking into account any additional points, ask for Vitali’s suspension for another 30-60 days.
The drug d-methamphetamine has no recognized medical use in equine and is listed as most concerning in the ARCI guidelines and imposes penalty recommendations as high as the suspension of at least one year and a minimum fine of $10,000.
According to PHRC records, the ruling was appealed and Vitali was granted adjournment prior to that appeal. He has a horse on both February 22nd and February 25th at Turf Paradise.
Crossed Sabers Farm’s Single Lady was eliminated to make it to the final round in the first race on August 26 and forfeited the $18,000 awarded for first place. Novogratz Racing Stables’ Luxury play day second below, is declared the winner.
On January 27, the PHRC also fined Vitali $500 for buying the drug without a prescription at the Presque Isle Downs facility. The PHRC alleges that Vitali has Dr Burch’s 40 Equi-Dyne and Dr Burch’s 6 Windy, which the regulator said, are labeled for veterinarians only. The PHRC also said there are no prescription labels on the bottles.
The New York Racing Association has scheduled a disciplinary hearing against Vitali for March 1, 2022, a date set by hearing officer Robert Smith at a meeting scheduled for October 13.
In a statement about the allegation against Vitali, the NYRA cited that from 2010 to 2020, he had amassed a complete record of drug violations, extended suspensions, and use of a “chapter” coach. submission” or “paper” during the suspension and obstruction of an investigation of misconduct.
The NYRA also alleges that over the past five years, he has been denied entry, kicked out of his home, and/or denied applications by regulators in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York and Delaware. Licensing; and has been sanctioned for violating a statute, rule, or regulation regarding racing involving drugs, drugs, or prohibited or restricted substances seven times in a year.
Vitali has a long list of violations and suspensions and is without a player starting from July 21, 2019 until January 4, 2021. During his career, he also received a 365-day suspension. in 2019 by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission for obstructing an investigation.
In 2016, he gave up his trainer license in Florida while facing penalties for seven drug violations, though he later accepted a 120-day suspension.
