Asmussen hearing reset for February

A stewards hearing for trainer Steve Asmussen concerning a horse in his care who tested positive for lidocaine has been reset for Feb. 10, according to Jean Cook, public information officer with the Texas Racing Commission. The hearing will come nine months after the filly in question, Timber Trick, won a maiden special weight race at Lone Star Park on May 10.

The case has gone in several directions over the past few months. The original stewards hearing was to be held in July, but Asmussen was granted a continuance as his legal team sought to obtain a blood sample and additional split-sample test data in advance of the hearing. They filed a petition in district court, and the commission was then granted a continuance in that case, which was heard in October.

The proceedings stalled at that point when a judge ruled she had no jurisdiction in the matter because the case is still pending at the commission level. The commission then set a Dec. 16 stewards hearing, but on Thursday it was rescheduled at the request of Karen Murphy, an attorney representing Asmussen.

Lidocaine is a Class 2 drug violation. Texas has a zero-tolerance policy on the local anesthetic.