Lawmaker Questions KHRC on Drug Penalty

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Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush, chairman of the congressional subcommittee that held a June 19 hearing on the Thoroughbred racing industry, has questioned the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s decision to suspend trainer Rick Dutrow only 15 days for a clenbuterol positive.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported July 29 that Rush sent a letter to the KHRC inquiring about the penalty, which could be changed pending the results of a hearing. KHRC executive director Lisa Underwood told the Herald-Leader Dutrow requested an extension, so the hearing won’t be held July 29 as scheduled.

In the letter, Rush questioned the penalty citing what he called Dutrow’s “ history of past offense,” the newspaper reported. Dutrow termed the Kentucky clenbuterol overage a mistake.

Dutrow, trainer of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) winner Big Brown, was among those asked to testify at the June congressional hearing, but he said he was ill and couldn’t make it to Washington, D.C.

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