Baxter suspended 25 days for medication violations

Georgina Baxter, the Florida-based trainer who took over many of the horses trained by Ralph Ziadie after he was denied a license in 2018, is serving a 25-day suspension after three horses she trained tested positive for two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, according to documents provided by the state’s racing regulatory agency.

The suspension began on Feb. 24 and will run through March 19, according to the records. Baxter was also fined $7,500.

According to the documents, Baxter reached a consent order with the Florida Division of Business and Professional Regulations to serve the suspension after the horses Fallen Leaf, Blings Express, and Trev raced with “impermissible” amounts of flunixin and phenylbutazone in their post-race samples. Both flunixin and phenylbutazone reduce inflammation.

The penalties were issued under so-called “stacking” violations that prohibit horses from having more than one NSAID in its sample at one time. Racing jurisdictions began adopting rules prohibiting stacking in the last six years.

Baxter had previously been fined for similar violations in the past, and she had challenged those rulings. An administrative law judge in 2019 had sided with the Division of Business and Professional Regulations in her appeal of the penalties.

The most recent consent order references those earlier violations, but it also states that Baxter “has assured the Division that she has already taken steps to prevent future violations.” If Baxter has a similar violation in the next 365 racing days, the consent order states, she will be handed an additional 60-day suspension.

A former exercise rider, Baxter took over the training of Ziadie’s horses after he was denied a racing license due to a long list of medication violations.