Belmont Park: Trainer Lalman gets seven-day ban for medication violation

ELMONT, N.Y. – Owner/trainer Dennis Lalman was suspended seven days and fined $1,000 after his horse Guyana Princess was found to have a substance banned for raceday use in her system following two races.

The suspension, which went into effect Thursday, was reduced from 15 days for Lalman waiving his right of appeal and is reflective of what a written ruling from the New York State Gaming Commission called “investigation findings.”

Guyana Princess was found to have the medication meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, in her system following her second-place finish in the seventh race at Aqueduct on April 12 and following a fourth-place finish in the first race at Belmont on April 26.

According to Carmine Donofrio, the New York Gaming Commission steward, Lalman had been advised by his veterinarian that the medication was permitted to be given within three days of a race, not seven days as is the proper protocol.

Guyana Princess, who finished fourth at Belmont on Wednesday, was disqualified and ordered unplaced in both of those April races.