The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission is accelerating its appeals timeframe for two men handed fines and suspensions related to the use of shockwave therapy. The Racing Biz reported this week that the appeal, which had not been scheduled until April 2020, will now take place in January.
Trainer Anthony Percaro and assistant David Neilson were given six-month suspensions and $1,000 fines after the commission said they used shockwave therapy on runner Glencairn outside commission guidelines. Records allegedly show the treatment was administered five days before a race in which Glencairn suffered a fatal injury.
Although considered effective in therapeutic contexts, regulators worry that shockwave therapy can be abused for its short-acting analgesic effect. Delaware regulations require the use of shockwave to be reported to the commission, performed by a commission-licensed veterinarian, and to be no closer than ten days ahead of a race or work.
The Racing Biz also reported that stewards have reversed a decision from earlier this year to ban Arabian trainer Gary Scott Powell for life and fine him $2,500. Powell, who trains for his brother Mark’s Powell Boys Stable, was the conditioner of a pair of ringers who participated in five races at Delaware Park. An affidavit from Mark Powell indicated Scott Powell did not know the horses’ DNA did not match the identities they ran under. The penalties assigned to Mark Powell — also a lifetime ban and $2,500 fine — remain unchanged.
Read more at The Racing Biz
New to the Paulick Report? Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry.
Copyright © 2019 Paulick Report.
