Harness racing trainers Nick Surick and Chris Oakes were among a number of horse racing participants who pleaded not guilty to numerous charges in a teleconference arraignment on Thursday, April 2.

All of the defendants named in the March 9 charges of doping and the manufacturing and misbranding of drugs administered to horses pleaded not guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, according to a report from Blood-Horse.

Surick and Oakes were named in the initial indictment, as were trainers Rick Dane Jr. and Chris Marino. Rene Allard and Richard Banca were subsequently charged for their alleged involvements in the operation but were not included in this teleconference arraignment.

(with files from USTA)