It has been reported that seven different horsepeople have been handed suspensions and fines in relation to cobalt.
WCSH6 has reported that seven horsepeople in the Maine industry have been slapped with suspensions, fines and orders to repay purse money for “providing cobalt to their horses.”
Some of the suspensions are as high as 450 days. The report states that one of the horsepeople implicated will have to repay roughly $23,000 in purse money.
WCSH6’s piece on the matter indicates that at least some of the horsepeople are planning on launching appeals, and that those appeals could be addressed as early as next week.
Trot Insider will update this story when more information becomes available.
A list of the horsepeople, fines, suspensions, etc. in regard to matter appears below.
Steven Vafiades
• Fined $2,250
• Must repay $23,000 in purse earnings
• 450-day suspension
Randy Bickmore
• Fined $2,250
• Must repay $11,000 in purse earnings
• 450-day suspension
Patricia Switzer
• Fined $2,250
• Must repay $7,000 in purse earnings
• 450-day suspension
Stephen Murchison
• Fined $2,250
• Must repay $4,250 in purse earnings
• 450-day suspension
Drew Campbell
• Fined $1,250
• Must repay $2,150 in purse earnings
• 270-day suspension
Allison MacDonald
• Must repay $1,250 in purse earnings
Frank Hiscock
• Must repay $1,200 in purse earnings
(With files from WCSH6)
The legal system should be
The legal system should be involved for repeat offenders. Jail time would be a great deterrent. The system currently in place is failing terribly.
Much tougher there than in
Much tougher there than in New York.
They should be banned for
They should be banned for life but at least the suspensions are substantial.
I will make a comment, seeing
I will make a comment, seeing there are none made as of yet. I've always said. Every trainer gets a schedule of drugs . (Period) if there horse is found with any drugs that are not on that list . (Lifetime suspension !! (Period )