AP News, October 5th, 2007
Trainer Patrick Biancone was suspended for one year Friday by Kentucky racing officials for violations of horse medication rules, but he vowed to appeal.
The suspension for Biancone, one of the nation's top trainers, takes effect Oct. 15, and likely means he won't be allowed to train horses anywhere in the United States because state racing regulators generally recognize actions from another state.
During a June 22 search of a refrigerator at Biancone's barns at Keeneland, investigators found three vials of Alpha-Cobratoxin, or snake venom, which is banned from tracks because of its ability to numb the nerves in horses. The venom was in a red bag labeled with the name of his veterinarian.
The vet, Dr. Rodney Stewart, is currently appealing a five-year suspension for possessing prohibited medication. Racing stewards found Biancone knew that Stewart broke the rules and failed to report it.
Biancone released a statement Friday evening denying that the venom belonged to him.
"None of these substances were mine," he said. "I first became aware of this situation while the search was being conducted and, as I understand it, Dr. Stewart immediately took full responsibility for the presence of these substances in my barn."
He added that he has cooperated with the investigation and even passed a polygraph test.
"I must fight to restore my reputation and to ensure that the facts and truth are told," he said.
Lisa Underwood, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, said she ordered the search of Biancone's barns and Stewart's vehicle after one of Biancone's horses tested positive for prohibited drugs after winning a race May 3 at Churchill Downs.
She said she also had contacted racing officials in California, who have fined him for other medication rules violations.
"I view (Biancone's violations) as an isolated situation," said Underwood, reached by cell phone Friday. "As a whole, we have a fabulous sport where people are performing honorably. It's part of our duty to protect the integrity of the sport, and we have done that in this situation."
Underwood said she didn't know if an appeal by Biancone would allow him to continue to run horses past Oct. 15, including the Breeders Cup World Championships Oct. 26-27 at Monmouth Park.
The reason the suspension isn't immediate, Underwood said, was that stewards didn't want to punish the owners of Biancone's horses.
"He needs time to get his affairs in order," she said.
Besides the one-year ban, Biancone received two 30-day suspensions for other medications violations. Those suspensions can be served concurrently with the Alpha-Cobratoxin violation.
Biancone was at Keeneland Friday, where he has 14 entered this weekend. Among them was Irish Smoke, which finished last in the Darley Alcibiades despite being the even-money favorite. Among others he is expected to send out are Slew's Tiznow in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity and Asi Siempre in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes.
Biancone, a native of France, has been a top trainer in both Europe and the United States. In 2004, he trained Lion Heart _ runner up in the Kentucky Derby. He also has been one of the most outspoken advocates for synthetic surfaces, including the Polytrack recently installed at Keeneland and Turfway Park.
