Kentucky Horse Racing Commission accepts support of Dutrow ban

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to accept a hearing officer’s recommendation affirming its decision two years ago to deny a license to the banned trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.

The vote was conducted nearly two months after Dutrow began serving a 10-year suspension that has sent the trainer to the sidelines as he conducts an unlikely appeal of the penalty through the federal courts. Still, the vote could pose problems to Dutrow if he is reinstated and seeks a license in Kentucky sometime in the future.

A committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission denied Dutrow a license in April 2011, citing discrepancies on his license application and “conduct against the best interests of racing.” Dutrow had appealed the ruling.

One month after the Kentucky committee denied the license, Dutrow was suspended for 10 years by New York regulators. He fought the penalty for nearly two years and continued training while his appeal was heard, but New York courts denied the last of his appeals earlier this year, and Dutrow’s license was revoked.

Dutrow has filed a federal appeal of the penalty, but a hearing date has yet to be scheduled.