Foley fined over falsified claims

Trainer Vickie Foley has been fined $2,000 by Churchill Downs for falsifying the signature of client Gus Goldsmith on two occasions at the Churchill fall meet.

Goldsmith alerted the stewards that Foley had signed his name with her own handwriting on claim slips before back-to-back races Nov. 23 at Churchill. Both claims were voided before the horses moved into Foley's barn.

Foley was not an "authorized agent" for Goldsmith, a standard arrangement whereby an owner and trainer contractually agree that a trainer can make claims on the owner's behalf. Foley conceded wrongdoing in both cases and has agreed to pay the fine.

The first claim already had been voided after the seventh race because another trainer for Goldsmith had submitted a claim for the same horse as Foley. In the eighth-race claim, Goldsmith's objection alerted the stewards of what had occurred, and they awarded the horse, Huntin Gene, to trainer Bernie Flint, the only other trainer to submit a claim.