Pena Immediately Suspended After 1,700 Drug Violations

[Scrambler]

Pena Immediately Suspended After 1,700 Drug Violations



The New York State Racing and Wagering Board announced on Thursday, May 24 that it has suspended trainer Lou Pena effective immediately and indefinitely after it found that horses under his care were illegally drugged in nearly 700 races in New York State. It has been announced that horses from his stable have amassed more than 1,700 equine drug violations.


OUCH.................

[OTM Al]

There has to be some way to blame NYRA for this....

[Charli125]

There has to be some way to blame NYRA for this.... You seem a little defensive Al!

Great work by 2 racing jurisdictions working together to bring about justice. Cooperation doesn't happen much in this industry and I'm thrilled that it's happened in this case.

1,700 violations is absolutely incredible. It makes me think that our testing isn't as good as we think. Basically it sounds like he was drugging the horses in one state, then bringing them to race in another state thus avoiding vet records.

[cj]

You seem a little defensive Al!

Great work by 2 racing jurisdictions working together to bring about justice. Cooperation doesn't happen much in this industry and I'm thrilled that it's happened in this case.

1,700 violations is absolutely incredible. It makes me think that our testing isn't as good as we think. Basically it sounds like he was drugging the horses in one state, then bringing them to race in another state thus avoiding vet records.

I'm glad the guy was caught, but did they really have to wait for all 1,700 to do something?

[cj]

1,700 violations is absolutely incredible. It makes me think that our testing isn't as good as we think. Basically it sounds like he was drugging the horses in one state, then bringing them to race in another state thus avoiding vet records.

I've never thought our drug testing was any good, but I never imagined it could be that bad.

[lamboguy]

I'm glad the guy was caught, but did they really have to wait for all 1,700 to do something?i just found out they don't test for clen, they rely on vet records. anyone can skirt around the system if this is the case.

if i was cuomo, i would ban the use of clen immediately

[Cardus]

Scrambler's thread title is hilarious!

[rrpic6]

Any pics of Dutrow or Ness pointing and saying "look at him"?

RR

[Cardus]

I'm glad the guy was caught, but did they really have to wait for all 1,700 to do something?
I think that the tide started turning against Pena after violation 1,653... or thereabouts.

[Saratoga_Mike]

]i just found out they don't test for clen[/B], they rely on vet records. anyone can skirt around the system if this is the case.

if i was cuomo, i would ban the use of clen immediately

At Yonkers OR for t'breds in NY too?

[Turkoman]

I'm glad the guy was caught, but did they really have to wait for all 1,700 to do something?

Exactly! I guess you get 1699 free shots.

[Robert Fischer]

Scrambler's thread title is hilarious!

lol

[lamboguy]

At Yonkers OR for t'breds in NY too?the whole thing has been a joke. pena figured out how to skirt around the system. even if he didn't mix anything in with the clen, the horse will always run better because they will breath easier. it is very discouraging to watch these guys take down all the purse money while they ruin the horses. i honestly think that you will get more interest in racing if you ban the use of clen beuterol all together.

[OTM Al]

You seem a little defensive Al!

Great work by 2 racing jurisdictions working together to bring about justice. Cooperation doesn't happen much in this industry and I'm thrilled that it's happened in this case.

1,700 violations is absolutely incredible. It makes me think that our testing isn't as good as we think. Basically it sounds like he was drugging the horses in one state, then bringing them to race in another state thus avoiding vet records.

Not really. Just figure the pols finally realized there are casinos at harness tracks too. Also really shows how good the oversight of the RWB is.

[5k-claim]

i just found out they don't test for clen, they rely on vet records. anyone can skirt around the system if this is the case.

if i was cuomo, i would ban the use of clen immediatelyReally? So Clenbuterol violations over the years have been the result of confessions... or vet records?


...figured out how to skirt around the system. even if he didn't mix anything in with the clen, the horse will always run better because they will breath easier. So... what someone figured out is that if they "mix (something) in with the clenbuterol" it will stay "mixed in" inside the horse's body and pass testing... because "they don't test for clen."?

Those genius cheaters.

.

[Greyfox]

Exactly! I guess you get 1699 free shots.

We don't know what happened, but perhaps we might speculate that a newer more recent test has been able to identify whatever drug he was using.
Then, if previous samples were in storage, they'd just go back and find out that they were positive too.
In bicycle racing, Lance Armstrong's samples are still in storage from his golden years.

[Tom]

h97kbv4mbsc

[5k-claim]

We don't know what happened, but perhaps we might speculate that a newer more recent test has been able to identify whatever drug he was using.
Then, if previous samples were in storage, they'd just go back and find out that they were positive too.
In bicycle racing, Lance Armstrong's samples are still in storage from his golden years.From the article (http://www.drf.com/news/harness-racing-trainer-pena-suspended-indefinitely-1719-medication-violations) at the DRF:the notice states that horses trained by Pena that competed in 632 races at Yonkers or Saratoga Raceway had been administered glycopyrrolate, a common anti-ulcer drug, within 96 hours of the races. The notice also said that Pena had administered methocarbomol, a muscle relaxant, within 72 hours of post to horses that had competed in 639 races. One of those is Class 3 and the other is Class 4.

Racing boards have rarely used veterinary records to determine that a trainer violated medication rules, but many racing commissions are more aggressively applying investigatory powers because of concerns that the sport has treated violators too leniently in the past. Bad time to have made any enemies on a racing commission.

The notice of suspension did not include a reference to one post-race positive drug test. Oh, well.

.

[lamboguy]

Really? So Clenbuterol violations over the years have been the result of confessions... or vet records?


So... what someone figured out is that if they "mix (something) in with the clenbuterol" it will stay "mixed in" inside the horse's body and pass testing... because "they don't test for clen."?

Those genius cheaters.

.that's just my guess.

pena must have been fingered by a disgruntled employee or girlfriend.

this thing is 100 times worse than the trifecta takeout scandal that has been taking place lately. on this same day, the state of california banned the use of clen 21 days before a race. i have no idea if they test there or not.

the same problem exists with shock wave and tapping as well. its the exact same problem, there is no test for it

[Greyfox]

From the article (http://www.drf.com/news/harness-racing-trainer-pena-suspended-indefinitely-1719-medication-violations) at the DRF: One of those is Class 3 and the other is Class 4.

Bad time to have made any enemies on a racing commission.

Oh, well.

.

Thank you. I hadn't read that article.
Right now his own vet records are what they are using as evidence against him.

[5k-claim]

Thank you. I hadn't read that article.
Right now his own vet records are what they are using as evidence against him. No problem. Although maybe it was a mistake for me to mention that article. The unintended entertainment value of this thread had the early makings of turning legendary.

Maybe it still will.

.

[Robert Fischer]

so his horses passed the tests, but they are going back through vet records to suspend him?

[bigmack]

Ironic. Ya got guys getting miffy about the possibility of NYRA being lumped into this, when in fact, the entire industry is a laughingstock.

Tough to bloody an already dead body.

[DeanT]

so his horses passed the tests, but they are going back through vet records to suspend him?

They're using it at the NYSRWB in various cases of late. Carmine Fusco had one positive, but they went through his vet records and found more.

He appealed it, and lost. So he's gone for five years.

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/notices/3-29-12/fusco-ban-upheld.html

[Robert Fischer]

They're using it at the NYSRWB in various cases of late. Carmine Fusco had one positive, but they went through his vet records and found more.

He appealed it, and lost. So he's gone for five years.

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/notices/3-29-12/fusco-ban-upheld.html

I don't want to take the side of a trainer skirting the rules but this seems like a complicated issue.

[Charli125]

No problem. Although maybe it was a mistake for me to mention that article. The unintended entertainment value of this thread had the early makings of turning legendary.

Maybe it still will.

.

Where's the comedy? They found out about it because of his vet records but they're supposed to be testing for a lot of this stuff. It just shows that our post race drug tests are worthless or at least easy to fool.

I don't know the solution because cheats will always find a way to cheat. To find out that he administered drugs inside of the window over 1,700 times, yet there isn't one positive drug test, is the scariest thing going on here to me.

[5k-claim]

Where's the comedy? They found out about it because of his vet records but they're supposed to be testing for a lot of this stuff. It just shows that our post race drug tests are worthless or at least easy to fool.

I don't know the solution because cheats will always find a way to cheat. To find out that he administered drugs inside of the window over 1,700 times, yet there isn't one positive drug test, is the scariest thing going on here to me.Every horse I have gets ulcer meds. It is a stressful life, and ulcer rates are high.

I am as careful as I can to be safely outside the 'withdrawal' window that I discussed with one of the testing barn (state) vets. But how do I know that 5 years from now something in the politics of the sport doesn't happen where my old vet records and/or blood samples are gone through and I get a mountain of drug violations out of it? (A list of violations that could be as long as the number of starts.)

I guess everyone at that point will say that I had found a clever way to operate as a "cheater" all of those years.

.

[DeanT]

I don't want to take the side of a trainer skirting the rules but this seems like a complicated issue.
I'm not sure it is that complex.

For example, you cant shock on race day and that's a rule. If you call up a vet and he shocks your horse at 8AM, he doesnt know you are racing at 1:30PM, but you do. So, if they look at the vet record and sees he did it on race day, you are gone for six months or whatever for breaking a rule.

I surmise it is the same with other things.

[DeanT]

I am as careful as I can to be safely outside the 'withdrawal' window that I discussed with one of the testing barn (state) vets.


If you're outside the window, why would you get a fine?

[therussmeister]

Where's the comedy? They found out about it because of his vet records but they're supposed to be testing for a lot of this stuff. It just shows that our post race drug tests are worthless or at least easy to fool.

I don't know the solution because cheats will always find a way to cheat. To find out that he administered drugs inside of the window over 1,700 times, yet there isn't one positive drug test, is the scariest thing going on here to me.
To me it could mean the levels of the drugs in the horse's bloodstream 3 - 4 days after receiving treatment, is too small to be detected by these tests, and therefore, probably too small to affect performance.

[Charli125]

If you're outside the window, why would you get a fine?

Bingo. Follow the rules and you have nothing to worry about.

[5k-claim]

If you're outside the window, why would you get a fine?In 2012, I won't.

My worry is more about the fact that even today there is so much ignorance (plenty of it seemingly on purpose) surrounding drugs that God only knows what the climate will be like in 5 years, or 10.

What annoys me the most is that handicappers like those on this board have been watching racing for years and years, and should therefore be much more sophisticated in the work of separating drugs into classes and types than what some random person walking the streets should be- and yet even here some people equate any violation of any drug for any reason with "cheating".

What would you call that?

.

[5k-claim]

Bingo. Follow the rules and you have nothing to worry about.Nice quote.

[DeanT]

In 2012, I won't.

My worry is more about the fact that even today there is so much ignorance (plenty of it seemingly on purpose) surrounding drugs that God only knows what the climate will be like in 5 years, or 10.
.

People arent fined for not wearing seat belts if there's a picture of them not wearing one before the law passed. I don't think anyone will be fined retroactively in racing either. It's never happened, to my knowledge.

[usedtolovetvg]

Bingo. Follow the rules and you have nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, you don't win much either.

[nijinski]

Every horse I have gets ulcer meds. It is a stressful life, and ulcer rates are high.

I am as careful as I can to be safely outside the 'withdrawal' window that I discussed with one of the testing barn (state) vets. But how do I know that 5 years from now something in the politics of the sport doesn't happen where my old vet records and/or blood samples are gone through and I get a mountain of drug violations out of it? (A list of violations that could be as long as the number of starts.)

I guess everyone at that point will say that I had found a clever way to operate as a "cheater" all of those years.

.
Not sayin about your horses , but I knew a trainer who started giving ulcer meds with the Naproxin . Made it easier on the digestive system.

[highnote]

i just found out they don't test for clen, they rely on vet records. anyone can skirt around the system if this is the case.

if i was cuomo, i would ban the use of clen immediately

If I was cuomo I'd probably shut down NYRA and reorganize the whole thing. Not that he has that kind of power, but come on, 1700 violations! :rolleyes:

[andicap]

If I was cuomo I'd probably shut down NYRA and reorganize the whole thing. Not that he has that kind of power, but come on, 1700 violations! :rolleyes:

Luis Pena is a harness trainer

http://saratogian.com/articles/2012/05/24/news/doc4fbeebbe46261382716409.txt

[OTM Al]

If I was cuomo I'd probably shut down NYRA and reorganize the whole thing. Not that he has that kind of power, but come on, 1700 violations! :rolleyes:

What do you think now Charlie? I'm shocked it took 35 more posts before someone went to blame them. And this is a board where we know the difference between t-Breds and trotters. Seriously I was making a joke, but the best ones always have an element of truth to them.

[jelly]

Pena said he told the Racing and Wagering Board, “You guys are looking for a way to throw me out just because I’m brown.”


Hahaha!.First sign of guilt throwing out the race card.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/trainer_suspended_for_drugged_horses_Hxgi8dfm7WpBG DawqpjGDM#ixzz1vt7qYLCv

[camourous]

It was a witch hunt plain and simple, they want him out and now they'll make it tough for him to continue racing. Remember he has ZERO positives during the time of the investigation, and all the violations are based on vet records on when they say the drugs were given.. If you would do this investigation on every trainer in the land Standardbred or Thoroughbred, 99% of them would be guilty of just what Pena was doing.... The vets always tell you for example the out time for this drug is 72 hours, but the testing cant pick it up if you give it 48 hours out..

[DeanT]

If you would do this investigation on every trainer in the land Standardbred or Thoroughbred, 99% of them would be guilty of just what Pena was doing.... The vets always tell you for example the out time for this drug is 72 hours, but the testing cant pick it up if you give it 48 hours out..

There is someone on this thread that gives meds at proper times. I know dozens of trainers who give meds at prescribed times. There are states and provinces who test for them too, at prescribed times, so people are surely not doing it there, or they would be caught with positives.

99% is nonsense, in my opinion.

[Charli125]

What do you think now Charlie? I'm shocked it took 35 more posts before someone went to blame them. And this is a board where we know the difference between t-Breds and trotters. Seriously I was making a joke, but the best ones always have an element of truth to them.

Damn it, you win.

[lamboguy]

There is someone on this thread that gives meds at proper times. I know dozens of trainers who give meds at prescribed times. There are states and provinces who test for them too, at prescribed times, so people are surely not doing it there, or they would be caught with positives.

99% is nonsense, in my opinion.pena did not have a positive test, they picked this up from the records of his vet. they didn't find any designer drugs either although is suspect they were pumped into every one of his horses.

this very same problem exists in the thoroughbred game as well with what i suspect would be upper echelon training outfits.

there is no way to get rid of the problem outside of banning the use of clenbeuterol. if there is a trace of it in the system of the horse, he should not run. if a trainer used the stuff to treat a horse, he should pretest his horse before the horse races to make sure there is no trace of the stuff. its to easy to mask things like steroids that do unfairly enhance the performance of the horse.

get rid of clenbeuterol and hold trainers to high standards and limit ownership of horses and all of a sudden you will have a very healthy game within 2 years. no matter how many different .10 exotic wagering and low takeout on certain bets won't mean a thing unless you get the basics down pat.

[Robert Fischer]

It was a witch hunt plain and simple, they want him out and now they'll make it tough for him to continue racing.

This is true.

It seems there are a few parallel topics here.

1. Trainers beating the tests (skirting the rules) by treating their horses in accordance with the testing limits, rather than the stated hours of the rules.

2. Racing board singling out a specific trainer who has passed the administered drug testing and "sequestering" vet records in an unprecedented level of violations in order to suspend the trainer for drugs that are not "super trainer performance enhancing drugs", because of politics and a high success rate of that trainer.

3. Drug tests that can't detect drugs administered within the hourly limit of the rules

4. Whether these factors will cause past and future vet records to be destroyed and falsified in order to protect trainers at yet another blow to the horse population's health.

[highnote]

What do you think now Charlie? I'm shocked it took 35 more posts before someone went to blame them. And this is a board where we know the difference between t-Breds and trotters. Seriously I was making a joke, but the best ones always have an element of truth to them.


In an earlier post, you said there must be someway to blame NYRA for this. I was just helping you out. :D

[OTM Al]

In an earlier post, you said there must be someway to blame NYRA for this. I was just helping you out. :D

All right! You are definitely on my list for straight man if ever I go into comedy! :)

[5k-claim]

This is true.

It seems there are a few parallel topics here.

1. Trainers beating the tests (skirting the rules) by treating their horses in accordance with the testing limits, rather than the stated hours of the rules.

2. Racing board singling out a specific trainer who has passed the administered drug testing and "sequestering" vet records in an unprecedented level of violations in order to suspend the trainer for drugs that are not "super trainer performance enhancing drugs", because of politics and a high success rate of that trainer.

3. Drug tests that can't detect drugs administered within the hourly limit of the rules

4. Whether these factors will cause past and future vet records to be destroyed and falsified in order to protect trainers at yet another blow to the horse population's health.You make some good points here. The most troubling, to me, is definitely #2. I do not know this particular Pena person, or whether he is a "good guy" or a "bad guy", but these commissions are scary to me- in more ways than one. Hopefully my new signature will prompt state racing commissions to leave me off their lists of potential targets. (Chances are I am a very small scalp for them to offer up- so I am pretty much confident in my safety. Although, even a small scalp could piss off a wrong person someday, I guess.)

In the meantime...

1. All drugs are not "bad."
2. All drug violations are not "cheating" perpetrated by "cheaters."

Exceptions to either of those two points should definitely meet with swift, consistent and meaningful penalties. And a good place for some slot money to be spent is in ever-improving drug testing procedures aimed at discovering those exceptions.

.