O'Neill suspended for positive test

[Al Gobbi]

Trainer Doug O’Neill will serve a 45-day suspension and was fined $10,000 by the New York State Gaming Commission for the finding of a forbidden substance in one of his horses following a race at Belmont Park in June 2013.

Under a settlement reached with the gaming commission, O’Neill’s suspension does not begin until Nov. 3, two days after the Breeders’ Cup is run at Santa Anita. The suspension runs through Dec. 18.

http://www.drf.com/news/oneill-suspended-new-york-gaming-commission

[Greyfox]

Trainer Doug O’Neill will serve a 45-day suspension and was fined $10,000 by the New York State Gaming Commission for the finding of a forbidden substance in one of his horses following a race at Belmont Park in June 2013.

Under a settlement reached with the gaming commission, O’Neill’s suspension does not begin until Nov. 3, two days after the Breeders’ Cup is run at Santa Anita. The suspension runs through Dec. 18.

http://www.drf.com/news/oneill-suspended-new-york-gaming-commission

D(rug) O'Neill suspended.
I'm shocked, shocked.

SjbPi00k_ME

[Rise Over Run]

Any idea why DO wan't named as the trainer for Private Zone in the Vosburgh last weekend?

[NY BRED]

The punch line is the purse $ due the owner was negated and WOB
was claimed away for 25k.

Wonder if the owner will litigate against the trainer presuming
the owner(s) is an innocent party.

Hopefully all racing circuits will follow these measures.

[Mineshaft]

Horse has been claimed twice since its Maiden score. Cant be too much wrong with the horse.

[Fager Fan]

This exemplifies everything wrong with racing. This happened over a year ago, and they allow the suspension to take place after the biggest races are over. I'm so sick of this.

[Rise Over Run]

Horse has been claimed twice since its Maiden score. Cant be too much wrong with the horse.
Wind of Bosphorus runs in the finale today at Belmont.

[cj]

He was on probation from California at the time, will they add to it? They should.

[classhandicapper]

This sounds like one of those therapeutic drug positives where someone lost track of when it was administered or how long it takes to be out of the system. It's an anti anxiety medicine with some muscle relaxant properties.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682050.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxazepam

[Mineshaft]

If they gave Espinoza 7 days for his ride surely the stewards would honor
his suspension at Belmont with it falling under his probation timeline.

[Rex Phinney]

This exemplifies everything wrong with racing. This happened over a year ago, and they allow the suspension to take place after the biggest races are over. I'm so sick of this.


I agree, the game will not crumble without dirty trainers. Don't know why those in charge are so scared to drop the hammer in these situations.

[DeanT]

This sounds like one of those therapeutic drug positives where someone lost track of when it was administered or how long it takes to be out of the system. It's an anti anxiety medicine with some muscle relaxant properties.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682050.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxazepam

Class II's are deemed non-therapeutic. I dont know what happened in this instance, but between races it's hard to see how or why a derivative of Valium would be used therapeutically.

[classhandicapper]

Class II's are deemed non-therapeutic. I dont know what happened in this instance, but between races it's hard to see how or why a derivative of Valium would be used therapeutically.

If it has muscle relaxant properties (which is what it states) that kind of thing is often given to humans with muscle cramping.

Maybe the horse was really high strung?

I know less than nothing about these matters when it comes to horses, but I don't see performance enhancer here.

[Mineshaft]

I'm pretty sure it's legal to use this drug just can't give it close to race day.

[Greyfox]

I know less than nothing about these matters when it comes to horses, but I don't see performance enhancer here.

In athletics, relaxed muscles increase speed.
Try swinging a golf club with your grip, forearms, and shoulders all tensed up.

[Rex Phinney]

In athletics, relaxed muscles increase speed.
Try swinging a golf club with your grip, forearms, and shoulders all tensed up.

Good point.

[DeanT]

If it has muscle relaxant properties (which is what it states) that kind of thing is often given to humans with muscle cramping.

Maybe the horse was really high strung?

I know less than nothing about these matters when it comes to horses, but I don't see performance enhancer here.

The Class rating system is a good guide. They, and its rare perhaps, do a good job of rating drugs based on performance enhancing and therapeutic. Class II drugs are biggies. In a place like Ontario, which redid a lot of the rules in 2008, give out a suspension of 1 to 5 years for all first offense Class II's (pdf here http://www.ontarioracingcommission.ca/uploadedFiles/2008%20Policy%20Directive%201%20-%20Penalty%20Guidelines.pdf

Note: They added "no therapeutic" fines/section to combat EPO/Aransnep and other bloodbuilders

[classhandicapper]

I'll leave it to the experts to decide if this was some kind of accidental miniscule overage that resulted from a therapeutic treatment, a total accidental exposure, or an attempt at performance enhancement, but I've taken both muscle relaxants for cramping and a benzodiazepine for insomnia (similar class). They made me feel great and got rid of the symptoms, but I'm pretty sure they diminished my athletic ability....if you know what I mean. :lol:

[Stillriledup]

O'Neill is currently 19 0 0 0 at Santa Anita.

[nijinski]

Class II's are deemed non-therapeutic. I dont know what happened in this instance, but between races it's hard to see how or why a derivative of Valium would be used therapeutically.

To ship here ?

[Grits]

Bruce Levine's positive is worse than O'Neill's. But no one says a word about him?

The fine issued to him should've been just as great. Due to the fact, the drug, Sildenafil--is--performance enhancing. When given to a racehorse its sole purpose is that of acting as a vasodialator to the blood vessels of the lungs. I believe I've stated before, Sildenafil treats pulmonary hypertension and ED. Trainers are still trying to get away with administering it to horses. One doesn't fill an animal with a drug that directly affects its lung and heart function when there is no diagnosed problem with either. This is wrong.

The brand names of Sildenafil (the generic), of course, are Viagra, Levitra (Vardenafil), Cialis, etc when given for ED. When prescribed for pulmonary disease, the brand name is Revatio. The RCI needs to better educate themselves on this drug and its risk to racehorses rather than continue to let trainers get by with a slap on the wrist.

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/sildenafil.html

Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. It works by relaxing and dilating the blood vessels in the lungs. This lowers the blood pressure in the lungs and helps to improve your ability to exercise.

[Stillriledup]

Bruce Levine's positive is worse than O'Neill's. But no one says a word about him?

The fine issued to him should've been just as great. Due to the fact, the drug, Sildenafil--is--performance enhancing. When given to a racehorse its sole purpose is that of acting as a vasodialator to the blood vessels of the lungs. I believe I've stated before, Sildenafil treats pulmonary hypertension and ED. Trainers are still trying to get away with administering it to horses. One doesn't fill an animal with a drug that directly affects its lung and heart function when there is no diagnosed problem with either. This is wrong.

The brand names of Sildenafil (the generic), of course, are Viagra, Levitra (Vardenafil), Cialis, etc when given for ED. When prescribed for pulmonary disease, the brand name is Revatio. The RCI needs to better educate themselves on this drug and its risk to racehorses rather than continue to let trainers get by with a slap on the wrist.

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/sildenafil.html

2007, especially 2008 and 2009 seem to have this particular trainer's best years.

Comparing his 2011 to present training record, it was nothing like 2008.

Maybe he forgot how to train?

[BIG49010]

Bruce Levine's positive is worse than O'Neill's. But no one says a word about him?

The fine issued to him should've been just as great. Due to the fact, the drug, Sildenafil--is--performance enhancing. When given to a racehorse its sole purpose is that of acting as a vasodialator to the blood vessels of the lungs. I believe I've stated before, Sildenafil treats pulmonary hypertension and ED. Trainers are still trying to get away with administering it to horses. One doesn't fill an animal with a drug that directly affects its lung and heart function when there is no diagnosed problem with either. This is wrong.

The brand names of Sildenafil (the generic), of course, are Viagra, Levitra (Vardenafil), Cialis, etc when given for ED. When prescribed for pulmonary disease, the brand name is Revatio. The RCI needs to better educate themselves on this drug and its risk to racehorses rather than continue to let trainers get by with a slap on the wrist.

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/sildenafil.html

Thanks for putting this up, I was thinking when I read the Bloodhorse story, why the hell would a gelding need Viagra!

[chadk66]

my guess is Doug was using this to treat a filly that was probably a little flighty/nervous and may be a horse that ties up after training.

[horses4courses]

my guess is Doug was using this to treat a filly that was probably a little flighty/nervous and may be a horse that ties up after training.

With you being a former trainer, your guesses are educated ones :ThmbUp:

[RacingFan1992]

Anyone else sick of trainers serving their suspensions after the big races? "Joe Smith today had a horse that tested positive for every banned substance dating back to the 1880's, the horse will race in the BC Classic, and the trainer will serve his suspension after all the big races and he retires." Bull S**t. As soon as the test comes back positive, the suspension should go into effect immediately. All the races that the horse won under that trainer should be striped from its record. For example, if Joe Smith trained a Triple Crown winner from the day the horse was a maiden and the last race of the three year old career, the horse tested positive for "Drug X" then the horse should be striped of its title as well as the wins under the trainer. This does sound harsh but it should not be tolerated in Horse Racing. (I know some people are thinking of a few of the Triple Crown winners.)

[Mineshaft]

my guess is Doug was using this to treat a filly that was probably a little flighty/nervous and may be a horse that ties up after training.



No doubt