CHRB files complaint against Morey; hearing scheduled

ARCADIA, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board has filed a complaint against trainer William Morey, alleging that a member of his staff administered a substance containing an alkalizing agent to two horses in the hours before they were scheduled to start on March 29 at Santa Anita.

The stewards at Santa Anita have scheduled a hearing in the case for May 2. The hearing could lead to a fine and/or suspension against Morey, pending testimony and a decision by stewards.

The complaint, announced late Tuesday afternoon, alleged that Morey’s assistant trainer administered the substance via a dose syringe. On March 29, the three horses Morey had entered were withdrawn approximately 30 minutes before post time for the first race for what was described by stewards at the time as a medication violation.

The racing board immediately launched an investigation, which led to Tuesday’s complaint.

Morey has not had any starters since March 29 and dispersed his Santa Anita-based stable to other trainers and shipped some horses off the property in late March and early April. Morey has not returned repeated phone calls or text messages in recent weeks seeking comment.

Morey, 44, has won 10 races with 56 starters at Santa Anita since Dec. 26. The most prominent winner of that sequence was Rye in the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic in January.