Kentucky stewards have taken disciplinary action against two licensees in connection with a horse running under an incorrect trainer’s name and suspended the trainer involved for a medication positive for the same horse.
According to three recent rulings, the disciplinary actions stem from the entry of Superstardom in the fourth race at Keeneland April 26 and came to light after the horse tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.
Superstardom, who was disqualified from her third-place finish, was entered to race under the name of trainer Larry Lay, but was actually trained by John Neal, who is not a licensed trainer but is licensed as an outrider on the Kentucky circuit.
Acting chief state steward Barbara Borden told the Louisville Courier-Journal Lay entered the horse under his name and that Carol Renn, the horse identifier, was aware of the incorrect entry.
As a result of the positive drug test, Lay has been suspended 30 days, from July 14-Aug. 12. He has appealed the suspension.
Neal has had his license revoked for 30 days and must appear before the license review committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in order to be reinstated. Renn has been suspended seven days from July 9-15.
A 5-year-old mare owned by Mark and Kathy Sherman, Superstardom has been trained by Bruce Balmer in all of her starts except the Keeneland race.