Shapiro Orders Additional Review of Intercontinental Incident

California Horse Racing Board chairman Richard B. Shapiro has ordered a review of the circumstances surrounding the administration of a bleeder medication to the horse Intercontinental within the prohibited pre-race time period.

Shapiro has asked Scott Chaney, who is a trained attorney and former assistant trainer, to conduct the review. According to a CHRB statement, Chaney currently serves as a steward at Santa Anita Park and was not assigned to Del Mar last Sept. 3 when the incident took place. Nor was Chaney assigned to the Oak Tree meet when that panel of stewards penalized a veterinarian in connection with the late administration of the medication.

"Mr. Chaney is uniquely qualified to understand the facts of the situation, the rules and laws of horse racing, the nuances involved in pre-race administration of Lasix (Salix), and the environment of racing," Shapiro said. "He will act independently and without direction from the CHRB staff or commissioners. He will have full access to any and all personnel. He will complete his review and report to the medication committee of the board on March 22 at a meeting of that committee. Thereafter, a full report will be given to the board at its March 23 meeting. The full board could then decide what further action if any should be taken related to this matter."

Veterinarian Amy Lee Nevens was fined $750 Oct. 15 by the CHRB for falsely reporting when she administered the Salix shot to Intercontinental prior to the mare's victory in the Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT) last September at Del Mar.

On Sept. 3, Nevens administered a Salix shot to the mare at 12:10 p.m. for the 3:35 p.m. Palomar, less than the four-hour window mandated by CHRB rule. Nevens reported that day she administered the Lasix at 11:30 a.m. on both the Bleeder Treatment Report and the Confidential Veterinarian Report.

However, a security guard at the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel recorded the administration of the shot on a video camera with a time stamp. At an Oct. 13 CHRB hearing, Nevens admitted giving the shot at 12:10.

Juddmonte Farms' Intercontinental, who would go on to be named the 2005 Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Turf Female, easily won the Palomar at odds of 3-10.

Jim Ford, co-owner of Palomar fourth-place finisher Katdogawn, said he has sent a letter to Shapiro requesting the re-distribution of the Palomar's purse.