By: Paulick Report Staff
Trainer Mario Serey Jr. is facing a 315-day license suspension and $11,500 in fines from six individual rulings issued by stewards at Penn National and Parx Racing in Pennsylvania for clenbuterol violations.
The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has granted Serey appeals on at least three of the suspensions and he continues to run horses at the two tracks.
Alan Pincus, attorney for Serey, was previously quoted in a racing publication as saying the positive tests were the result of sabotage by an exercise rider who formerly worked for Serey.
The individual rulings are for:
- Michael Jester’s Grasshoppin, second in race 3 at Penn National Nov. 23, 2016. $500 fine and 15 days from May 1-15.
- John Fanelli’s Steve’s Philly, first in race 2 at Penn National Dec. 2, 2016. $1,000 fine and 30 days from May 16-June 14.
- Bing Cherry Racing’s Win Wish, first in race 4 at Penn National on Dec. 3, 2016. $2,500 fine and 60 days from June 15-Aug. 13.
- Mario Serey Jr.’s Peacock Strut, first in race 6 at Parx Racing on Dec. 5, 2016. $2,500 fine and 90 days from Aug. 14-Nov. 1.
- Whip’ R Due Stable’s Ruby’s Love, first in race 6 at Parx Racing on Dec. 6, 2016. $5,000 fine and 120 days from Nov. 12-March 11, 2018.
All of the horses were disqualified and purse money redistributed. Pari-mutuel payoffs were not affected by any of the disqualifications.
Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator that some believe has steroidal effects when used in training. The Association of Racing Commissioners International’s Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances lists it as a Class 3 Drug with a Class B penalty under the ARCI model rules.
