Baltas hearing with Del Mar stewards rescheduled for Aug. 3

Trainer Richard Baltas, who has not been allowed to start horses in California since early May by track and regulatory officials, will meet with Del Mar stewards on Aug. 3 regarding a complaint that horses in his care were allegedly administered unpermitted substances in the spring.

The hearing was scheduled for July 1 until attorney Darrell Vienna, representing Baltas, asked for a 30-day continuance to research the case.

In a complaint issued on June 21, the California Horse Racing Board alleged that unpermitted substances were administered to 23 horses in Baltas’s care on race days at Santa Anita between April 15 and May 8.

Baltas faces a potential fine and/or suspension for the infractions.

Baltas, 61, has developed one of the most prominent stables in Southern California in racing years, frequently participating in the circuit’s leading races.

In early May, Baltas was banned from working or starting horses at Santa Anita by track management when the allegations surfaced. On May 8, a Baltas-trained horse was withdrawn at Santa Anita after officials became aware the gelding had been administered a substance within the preceding 24 hours, a source said at the time.

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California trainers are under severe restrictions regarding medications and supplements that can be administered to a horse within 48 and 24 hours prior to a race.

In late June, days after the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting concluded on June 19, Baltas attempted to enter horses at the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos, but was denied by the opportunity by track stewards.

Among the reasons cited in the decision were racing board rules stating the stewards had the power to refuse an entry “for good cause” and that they “may, without notice, refuse the entries of any person.”

Baltas has appealed that decision, but no hearing date has been set in that aspect of the case.

Without the ability to operate his stable, a majority of the Baltas-trained runners were transferred in early May to George Papaprodromou, while a small number were dispersed to other trainers.

The arrangement will continue at the Del Mar summer meeting that begins on July 22. Papaprodromou said on Friday that he will have divisions of former Baltas-trained runners at Del Mar and the nearby San Luis Rey Downs training center, while continuing to operate his owns stable of approximately 50 runners. Between the two venues, Papaprodromou is expected to have a stable of 80 to 90 runners.

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In its complaint, the racing board said video surveillance of Baltas’s stable showed substances administered to the horses by the trainer’s employees. Tests taken at the University of California-Davis, the state’s official testing laboratory, revealed the presence of higenamine and paenol, according to the racing board’s complaint.

According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s website, higenamine is a stimulant that has been banned for use in athletes since 2017 by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Paenol is an anti-inflammatory, according to veterinarian websites.

Baltas ranked fifth in the standings at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting in early May when he was banned from starting horses. He won five stakes earlier this year.