Harness: Meadowlands stands behind owner/trainer Adrienne Hall; USTA remains firm

On Thursday (2/3) The Meadowlands released a statement that it will allow owner/trainer Adrienne Hall to continue to race at its facility despite her recent testimony that led to the conviction of veterinarian Dr. Seth Fishman one day earlier.

"To penalize those who testify for the prosecution will only serve to further the already existing notion that 'saying something will only lead to problems for yourself'. It will discourage the type of participation necessary to convict the indicted persons, as Ms. Hall's testimony has helped on this case," said Meadowlands President Jeff Gural.

Hall testified that she was given performance-enhancing drugs as a gift from Fishman but in a Facebook post on Thursday clarified the situation. The owner/trainer indicated that she reached out to Fishman not for illegal medications but for him to be her primary vet.

"Our first full phone conversation consisted of me sending full blood work and lengthy descriptions about my horses," wrote Hall on Facebook. "In this call, I made it clear that I did NOT want to use EPO or Baking Soda drenches on them, I loved my horses and didn't want to hurt them. I trusted that as a licensed vet he would be able to help me with their issues (tying up and low RBC) without using anything toxic.

"My contact with him lasted a few months and ended shortly after I arrived in NJ in 2019," continued Hall. "I have been working with the Feds for over 2 years now VOLUNTARILY to help put this guy away. There was never a talk of any prosecution agreement, I was committed to testifying regardless of one. Never for one minute was I concerned that I'd be indicted, arrested, or convicted of a crime. I did ultimately receive a non-prosecution agreement as added protection, but that was never going to sway my decision to take the stand. My driving force was that I was playing a part in making the industry better and helping the horses."

While Hall did come forward to "make things right" in her own words, she admitted that when she was initially dealing with Fishman her focus was on whether the medication he provided would hurt the horse or show up on a test. Hall was aware she was giving PEDs and is clearly regretful.

"I was very stupid and made some huge mistakes," said Hall about the situation.

Hall owns two horses -- S McKee and Thespywholovedme -- entered on Saturday at The Meadowlands and both will be permitted to race despite her membership being rescinded by the United States Trotting Association on Tuesday. According to the track's release, USTA membership is not required to be granted a pari-mutuel racing license in New Jersey, thus she remains eligible to race per the New Jersey Racing Commission.

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"We disagree with the USTA decision and we applaud Ms. Hall for coming forward," said Gural.

"I am so thankful to the NJRC and Jeff Gural for actually sitting down with me and hearing my truth and ultimately making the decision to allow me to race my two horses there. To the USTA, I am utterly horrified at them stripping me of my membership without so much as a call," wrote Hall on Facebook.

USTA Executive Vice President and CEO Mike Tanner supplied the following statement when asked for a comment on the matter: "Adrienne Hall testified under oath to obtaining an impermissible, performance-enhancing drug that was administered to a horse in her care that competed in and won a pari-mutuel event. This is a clear violation of USTA rules.

"Ms. Hall has the right to appeal her suspension to the Association."

While The Meadowlands has made its stance clear, Yonkers Raceway, another track in the Northeast where Hall's horses have raced, will not be allowing her to compete according to Racing Secretary Joe Frasure, and sources from at least one other track have also confirmed she is not welcome.

"She is officially not allowed to race," said Frasure. "Everyone has to be a member of the USTA to race at Yonkers. We have a number of [USTA Board of] directors competing here like Jordan Stratton, Ray Schnittker, Mark Ford and Joe Faraldo, and that has always been the policy."

When asked if Yonkers would reverse course should the USTA reinstate her license, Frasure said possibly.