PLETCHER CHARGED WITH BREEDERS’ CUP PROCAINE POSITIVE
The finding was confirmed by Pennsylvania Equine Research Laboratory. Procaine is a local anesthetic and is found in procaine penicillin G, a commonly administered antibiotic for horses. For this reason procaine is a Class 3 violation rather than a Class 2 violation, as are most other local anesthetics for horses.
Wait a While finished third in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park on October 24, 2008, which was the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The stewards at Hollywood Park have scheduled a December 14 hearing on the disqualification of Wait a While and forfeiture of her share of the purse ($213,000) for redistribution.
A hearing has not been scheduled for Pletcher.
For additional reporting by Ray Paulick on the complaint against Pletcher, click here . To read Pletcher’s response to the complaint, click here.
Tags: Breeders' Cup, California Horse Racing Board, CHRB, drug positive, filly & mare turf, maddy laboratory, Paulick Report, pennsylvania equine research laboratory, pletcher, procaine, Ray Paulick, todd pletcher, wait a while
December 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
He’ll wiggle out of that one too.
December 6th, 2008 at 11:40 am
please read Mr. Pletcher’s response [linked in the piece above] - sounds like a reasonable, innocent explanation.
As a former defense attorney I cringe at people like Joe [previous comment] ASSUMING guilt and feeling that if a person is exonerated he/she has “wiggled out of” something.
December 6th, 2008 at 11:42 am
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE -
Statement from Todd Pletcher in Response to Complaint Filed Against Him by the California Horse Racing Board
December 5, 2008 – Elmont, NY - “Two days after winning the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita on September 27, Wait A While developed a temperature. She did not respond well to other antibiotics. After conferring with our veterinarians we felt that it was in her best interest to treat her with Penicillin. We were advised that 14 days was more than ample withdrawal time. She received her last injection of the antibiotic on October 6, 18 days prior to the Breeders’ Cup. Along with our attorney, Neil Papiano we look forward to our hearing with the CHRB so that we can present them with the facts
December 6th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Caroline, my comment was in part referring to trainers who receive ridiculously small fines and suspensions and others who successfully defend positives. A morphine positive can be tossed out using the poppy seed bagel defense, a tenacious lawyer who knows racing well and players on both sides, and who drags the case for years… And because Procaine can be added to Penicillin, such positive can be challenged on the basis that it was not used as a potent local anesthetic.