Biancone vet appeals ban

Dr. Rod Stewart, the racetrack veterinarian who was suspended by the Kentucky Racing Commission on Aug. 16 for failing to comply with requests for records, has appealed the suspension, commission officials said on Monday after a regular meeting of the commission.

Lisa Underwood, the executive director of the commission, said that Stewart will be granted an appeal by a hearing officer, but that the commission still expects the veterinarian to turn over records and allow his computer to be searched. Stewart was asked to comply with the records requests by Aug. 9, but did not cooperate.

Stewart has been under investigation since commission investigators searched his truck and the Keeneland barns of trainer Patrick Biancone on June 22. According to an anonymous source close to the investigation, the search turned up vials of cobra venom, a prohibited substance that can be used as a powerful painkiller.

Phone calls to Stewart's lawyer, Karen Murphy, were not returned on Monday.

John Veitch, the Kentucky state steward, said after the Monday meeting that a hearing in the Biancone matter has not yet been held.

Underwood declined to answer any questions about Biancone other than to say, "It's still under investigation."