Among other things, Gill alleges he was banned from Delaware Park after repeated warnings by Abbey to stop claiming horses there. Abbey and Delaware Park chief operating officer William Fasy did not immediately return telephone calls.
Attorneys for Michael Gill, one of the leading Thoroughbred owners in the country, filed a federal lawsuit in Delaware May 1. They claim Delaware Park officials unlawfully conspired to prevent Gill from racing his horses at the track, which opened April 26. The Associated Press reported the lawsuit replaces a similar complaint filed April 9 in Gill's home state of New Hampshire, where a judge rejected his request for a temporary restraining order allowing him to compete at Delaware Park. Defendants named in the suit are Delaware Park, track owner William Rickman, racing secretary Sam Abbey, and trainers Scott Lake and Allen Iwinski.