West Virginia stewards ban former Charles Town racing secretary for two years

West Virginia stewards have revoked the license of the former racing secretary at Charles Town Races for two years because he accepted a loan from two trainers that own and race horses at the track, according to a copy of the stewards’ ruling.

The ruling states that the former racing secretary, Randy Wehrman, solicited a $700 loan from trainer John McKee “on or about Nov. 16,” 2012. When McKee was unable to provide a check to Wehrman immediately, he contacted his “significant other,” the trainer Cynthia O’Bannon, who wrote a check to Wehrman for the amount.

The ruling states that “soliciting and receiving money from horsemen compromises the integrity of the racing secretary’s position; has the potential to, or may actually, compromise the impartiality of the racing secretary with regard to the two horsemen; . . .  and presents a clear conflict of interest which is contrary to the best interests of racing.”

Under the ruling, Wehrman will be unable to receive any racing license in West Virginia for two years. He will be excluded from all racetrack grounds.

Wehrman, who had been Charles Town’s racing secretary since 2008, was escorted from the track grounds by security personnel and fired in early December. Officials for Charles Town have declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his firing.

The stewards issued the ruling on Feb. 1, two weeks after conducting a hearing into the matter.
On Tuesday, Charles Town announced that it had elevated Charles McIntosh to Wehrman’s former position.

McIntosh has been employed in Charles Town’s racing office for the past three years, according to a release from the track’s parent company, Penn National Gaming Inc. McIntosh had previously worked at the old Latonia racetrack, now known as Turfway Park, and had also been the director of racing at Birmingham Turf Club, which closed in 1995.