Dutrow Suspended 120 Days; May Only Serve 60

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., who trains Sis City, the likely favorite in Friday's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), was suspended for 120 days beginning June 1 for three separate violations incurred over the past two years, but half of the suspension could be stayed.

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board announced Monday Dutrow has dropped his appeals of the three charges, two for medication violations and one for an illegal claim. Dutrow will also pay fines totaling $5,000.

Sixty days of the suspension will be stayed and discharged if Dutrow does not commit any significant violation of board rules. During the period of suspension, Dutrow will not be allowed to participate in New York pari-mutuel horse racing directly or indirectly, and shall be denied privileges and use of the grounds of all New York racetracks. Other jurisdictions around the country make their own decisions on whether to allow Dutrow to enter horses during the term of his suspension.

The board found that Farmer Jake, trained by Dutrow, raced at Aqueduct April 27, 2003, with the drug mepivacaine present in its system. The board fined Dutrow $3,000 and gave him a 45-day license suspension for the violation. On Jan. 11, 2004, Starship Smokestar, trained by Dutrow, was found to have raced at Aqueduct with clenbuterol present in its system. The board fined Dutrow $2,000 and added a 15-day license suspension.

In the claiming charge, the board said between May 16-June 12, 2004, Dutrow claimed and resold a horse within 30 days and entered and caused it to be raced in the name of a person who was not the owner, in violation of board rules. The horse, Cap, was claimed in the name of Sanford Goldfarb May 12 at Belmont Park.

On May 19 the horse was transferred to Lawrence Roman, who was ineligible to claim. Then, on June 12, the horse raced at Belmont in the name of Goldfarb. The board handed out a 60-day license suspension for the charge, which shall be conditionally stayed if Dutrow does not violate board rules.

"The board continues to take a firm stance against inappropriate use of equine drugs and believes strongly about holding people accountable for their violations," said Stacy Clifford, spokesperson for the racing and wagering board.