Kentucky trainer, outrider suspended for running horse under false trainer's name

Kentucky stewards have suspended a trainer, an outrider, and a horse identifier because of their roles in the running of a horse under a false trainer’s name at the spring Keeneland meet, the chief steward, Barbara Borden, said Friday.

Stewards discovered that the horse was not being trained by the listed trainer after the horse, Superstardom, tested positive for the bronchial dilator clenbuterol following a third-place finish in a $25,000 claiming race at Keeneland on April 26. The horse has been disqualified, and the purse redistributed.

The trainer of Superstardom was listed that day as Larry Lay, but the real trainer was John Neal, an outrider at Keeneland, Borden said. Because Lay was the trainer of record, he was given a 30-day suspension for the clenbuterol positive. Kentucky rules, like those in all other states, require that the listed trainer be held responsible for post-race positive drug tests, regardless of circumstances. Lay has appealed the ruling.

Neal, meanwhile, was also given a 30-day suspension because he was the real trainer of the horse. Neal is not licensed as a trainer, and he will be required to appear before the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s Licensing Review Committee before being allowed to return to work.

In addition, according to Borden, the stewards issued a seven-day suspension against Carol Renn, a horse identifier at Kentucky tracks, because she was aware that Superstardom was not trained by Lay but failed to report the subterfuge to the stewards.