Thoroughbred trainer William Badgett Jr. is facing a 60-day suspension and $1,000 fine by New York regulators after a one of his horses showed excessive levels of TCO2.
Pre-race testing on a Jan. 9 race at Aqueduct racetrack uncovered the high levels in Wild Conga, a 3-year-old gelding who won the sixth race that day.
“Our medication rules are intended to protect the integrity of racing,” New York Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John D. Sabini said Feb. 6 in a written statement. “This board will vigorously enforce these rules regardless of whether the violations are found at harness tracks or thoroughbred tracks.”
Dr. George Maylin, who runs the drug testing program for the board out of Cornell University, confirmed the high TCO2 levels in Wild Conga. He ruled out that the high levels could have been caused by the horse’s physiologically normal TCO2 levels.
The racing board said Badgett, who could not immediately be reached for comment, is appealing the sanctions set by the agency’s steward at Aqueduct. A hearing by the board will consider the appeal.