The New Jersey Racing Commission issued a ruling (dated Dec. 1) suspending trainer Ross Croghan for 180 days and fining him $2,500 as the result of the horse Cammabis violating the state’s total carbon dioxide (TCO2) regulations

on June 6, 2007, at the Meadowlands Racetrack. According to the ruling, Croghan’s suspension will be served from April 1, 2010 through and including September 27, 2010.

With respect to this suspension and fine that was announced on December 17 any horses trained by Ross Croghan are ineligible for O’Brien Award consideration.

The O’Brien Award eligibility policy is as follows:

An O'Brien Award will not be presented to any individual or entity who has served, or is currently serving, a penalty for a continuous period of 180 days or more during the calendar year. If the penalty continues through any part of the following calendar year, said individual is also ineligible for an O'Brien Award in the second year of the penalty.

Further, any horses trained by such individuals are ineligible for O'Brien Award consideration during that calendar year.

Any horse that receives a positive test for a Class I, II, or III drug during the calendar year, or at any time prior to the presentation of the Awards, is not eligible for any O'Brien Award.

Outstanding appeals and/or stays do not alter the conditions of eligibility for O'Brien Award Consideration.

Many completed O’Brien Award ballots were received prior to the announcement of Croghan’s suspension and included votes for the pacing mare Southwind Tempo. Ross Croghan trained Southwind Tempo for many of her 2009 races and pursuant to O’Brien Award Eligibility Policy, Southwind Tempo is not eligible for an O’Brien Award. Voters who cast votes for Southwind Tempo were offered the opportunity to cast a new vote in this category.