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Weekly National Rulings: May 14-20

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Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA’s “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 05/18/2026
Licensee: Teresa Marie Pompay, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Neck of Cairo, who won at Tampa Bay on 4/10/26.

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Darien Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Violation for the breach of rule 3313, the “Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance during the Race Period,” pertaining to the horse Bravo Kitten on 2/12/26.

According to the case resolution, on February 12 the date Bravo Kitten was entered to run in Race 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, Rodriguez was observed “walking out of the stall of the Covered Horse with an empty dose syringe that had a light buttery yellow color residue inside, and he admitted administering that substance to Bravo Kitten.”

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Randy Matthews, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Centeya on 4/9/26.

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Stephen Trevino, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 15, 2026; 30-day additional period of Ineligibility for Covered Person for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points, beginning on May 22, 2026; Disqualification of any results obtained for any related participation in violation of a prior period of Ineligibility, specifically the Disqualification of the Race Results obtained by Fatih on 10/27/25, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Violation of rule 3329(a), concerning the “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility While serving a Provisional Suspension or period of Ineligibility for a Controlled Medication Rule Violation.”

According to the final ruling by an internal adjudication panel, Trevino served a seven-day suspension that began on October 22.

On Oct. 27, representatives from HISA and HIWU met Trevino at his Mahoning Valley barn and told him his horse, Fatih, could participate in a race that day as the horse had been entered prior to his period of ineligibility, but that Trevino could not “participate in any activities related to any Covered Horse,” according to the IAP ruling.

“Respondent stated that he understood the restrictions and Trainer Ricardo Bailey saddled Fatih for Respondent before the 4th race,” the ruling states.

Later that day, however, “Fatih participated in and won the 4th race at Mahoning Valley,” and Trevino “retrieved Fatih from the racing surface and accompanied the horse to the Winner’s Circle. Respondent participated in the win photo following the 4th race,” the final ruling states, thereby breaching the parameters of his suspension.

While the HIWU website lists only Fatih as the “covered horse” in question for this particular sanction, the IAP’s final ruling states that Trevino had violated his “period of ineligibility” multiple times during that seven-day period, including with other horses.

Dates: 05/13/2026
Licensee: Jeffrey O. Skerrett, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Vladislav, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valey on 3/16/26.

Pending ADMC Violations
05/20/2026, Satchell S. Stevens, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Derby Day, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/21/26.

05/20/2026, Moises Yanez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Kid Kaos, who did not finish the seventh race at Tampa Bay on 4/18/26. According to Equibase, the horse was pulled up entering the stretch and ambulanced off.

05/20/2026, Fidencio Jimenez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin and Phenylbutazone–both class C controlled substances–in a sample taken from Merlin the Red, who finished fifth at Will Rogers on 4/7/26.

05/19/2026, Casey Schleis, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Call Me Breeze on 4/27/26.

05/19/2026, Sean McCarthy, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Capsaicin–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Big Reflections on 4/11/26.

05/19/2026, Jose Corrales, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Nikethamide–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Curlene’s Spirit, who won at Laurel Park on 2/20/26.

05/15/2026, Jamie Ness, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Irish Exit on 4/18/26.

05/15/2026, Shannon McGovern, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Rock City Kid on 4/14/26.

05/15/2026, Domenick Schettino, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from That’sthefactjack, who finished seventh at Aqueduct on 4/3/26.

Crop Violations
Aqueduct
Jose Lezcano–reporting date May 18; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Katie Davis–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Churchill Downs
Jann N. Hernandez–reporting date May 14; $500 fine, one-day suspension
James Graham–reporting date May 14; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Delaware Park
Marvin R. Fernandez–reporting date May 20; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Prairie Meadows
Ronnie W. Huckaby–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Santa Anita
Joel R. Mejia–reporting date May 15; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested

Sunland Park
Christian Ramos–reporting date May 15; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Oscar Andrade–reporting date May 15; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Thistledown
Brandon Tapara–reporting date May 19; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested
Ricardo Feliciano–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested

The post Weekly National Rulings: May 14-20 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Career Win 5,000 for Trainer Jamie Ness

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Trainer Jamie Ness, who won his first race at Canterbury Park in 1999, earned his 5,000th win Wednesday at Delaware Park, just moments after he got victory 4,999 at Parx Racing. His milestone victory came in Delaware’s Race 6, a starter optional claimer, with Chelsea Wall (Sky Kingdom), who was piloted by recent GI Preakness Stakes-winning jockey Paco Lopez.

Ness currently leads the trainer standings at Delaware Park and last year secured his 11th consecutive (and 13th overall) leading trainer title at the oval outside of Wilmington.

Ness captured his 4,000th career victory in 2023 at Laurel, 13 years after notching his 1,000th win in 2010 at Presque Isle.

The post Career Win 5,000 for Trainer Jamie Ness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Weekly National Rulings: May 14-20

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Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country.

The following rulings were reported on HISA’s “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit’s (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Dates: 05/18/2026
Licensee: Teresa Marie Pompay, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Neck of Cairo, who won at Tampa Bay on 4/10/26.

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Darien Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Violation for the breach of rule 3313, the “Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance during the Race Period,” pertaining to the horse Bravo Kitten on 2/12/26.

According to the case resolution, on February 12 the date Bravo Kitten was entered to run in Race 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, Rodriguez was observed “walking out of the stall of the Covered Horse with an empty dose syringe that had a light buttery yellow color residue inside, and he admitted administering that substance to Bravo Kitten.”

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Randy Matthews, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points.
Explainer: Vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Centeya on 4/9/26.

Dates: 05/14/2026
Licensee: Stephen Trevino, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 15, 2026; 30-day additional period of Ineligibility for Covered Person for the accumulation of 6 Penalty Points, beginning on May 22, 2026; Disqualification of any results obtained for any related participation in violation of a prior period of Ineligibility, specifically the Disqualification of the Race Results obtained by Fatih on 10/27/25, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Violation of rule 3329(a), concerning the “Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility While serving a Provisional Suspension or period of Ineligibility for a Controlled Medication Rule Violation.”

According to the final ruling by an internal adjudication panel, Trevino served a seven-day suspension that began on October 22.

On Oct. 27, representatives from HISA and HIWU met Trevino at his Mahoning Valley barn and told him his horse, Fatih, could participate in a race that day as the horse had been entered prior to his period of ineligibility, but that Trevino could not “participate in any activities related to any Covered Horse,” according to the IAP ruling.

“Respondent stated that he understood the restrictions and Trainer Ricardo Bailey saddled Fatih for Respondent before the 4th race,” the ruling states.

Later that day, however, “Fatih participated in and won the 4th race at Mahoning Valley,” and Trevino “retrieved Fatih from the racing surface and accompanied the horse to the Winner’s Circle. Respondent participated in the win photo following the 4th race,” the final ruling states, thereby breaching the parameters of his suspension.

While the HIWU website lists only Fatih as the “covered horse” in question for this particular sanction, the IAP’s final ruling states that Trevino had violated his “period of ineligibility” multiple times during that seven-day period, including with other horses.

Dates: 05/13/2026
Licensee: Jeffrey O. Skerrett, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse’s Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Vladislav, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valey on 3/16/26.

Pending ADMC Violations
05/20/2026, Satchell S. Stevens, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Derby Day, who finished second at Will Rogers on 4/21/26.

05/20/2026, Moises Yanez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Kid Kaos, who did not finish the seventh race at Tampa Bay on 4/18/26. According to Equibase, the horse was pulled up entering the stretch and ambulanced off.

05/20/2026, Fidencio Jimenez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin and Phenylbutazone–both class C controlled substances–in a sample taken from Merlin the Red, who finished fifth at Will Rogers on 4/7/26.

05/19/2026, Casey Schleis, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Call Me Breeze on 4/27/26.

05/19/2026, Sean McCarthy, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Capsaicin–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Big Reflections on 4/11/26.

05/19/2026, Jose Corrales, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Nikethamide–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Curlene’s Spirit, who won at Laurel Park on 2/20/26.

05/15/2026, Jamie Ness, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Irish Exit on 4/18/26.

05/15/2026, Shannon McGovern, trainer: Pending vets’ list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Rock City Kid on 4/14/26.

05/15/2026, Domenick Schettino, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from That’sthefactjack, who finished seventh at Aqueduct on 4/3/26.

Crop Violations
Aqueduct
Jose Lezcano–reporting date May 18; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Katie Davis–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Churchill Downs
Jann N. Hernandez–reporting date May 14; $500 fine, one-day suspension
James Graham–reporting date May 14; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Delaware Park
Marvin R. Fernandez–reporting date May 20; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Prairie Meadows
Ronnie W. Huckaby–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Santa Anita
Joel R. Mejia–reporting date May 15; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested

Sunland Park
Christian Ramos–reporting date May 15; $1,000 fine, two-day suspension
Oscar Andrade–reporting date May 15; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Thistledown
Brandon Tapara–reporting date May 19; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested
Ricardo Feliciano–reporting date May 18; $250 fine, one-day suspension, on appeal stay requested

The post Weekly National Rulings: May 14-20 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Career Win 5,000 for Trainer Jamie Ness

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Trainer Jamie Ness, who won his first race at Canterbury Park in 1999, earned his 5,000th win Wednesday at Delaware Park, just moments after he got victory 4,999 at Parx Racing. His milestone victory came in Delaware’s Race 6, a starter optional claimer, with Chelsea Wall (Sky Kingdom), who was piloted by recent GI Preakness Stakes-winning jockey Paco Lopez.

Ness currently leads the trainer standings at Delaware Park and last year secured his 11th consecutive (and 13th overall) leading trainer title at the oval outside of Wilmington.

Ness captured his 4,000th career victory in 2023 at Laurel, 13 years after notching his 1,000th win in 2010 at Presque Isle.

The post Career Win 5,000 for Trainer Jamie Ness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.