Los Alamitos: Court denies De La Torre's request for stay of ban

Quarter Horse trainer Jose De La Torre was denied a temporary restraining order in Orange County, Calif., on Jan. 10, seeking to have his stable reinstated on the backstretch at Los Alamitos after a series of clenbuterol positives.

The decision was announced in a press release issued by Los Alamitos on Thursday.

De La Torre had four horses test positive for the bronchodilator clenbuterol from late September to late November, resulting in the redistribution of $33,150 in purses. The trainer faces a possible fine or suspension for the positives.

In 2008-09, De La Torre had nine positives for clenbuterol, resulting in a total of $25,000 in fines and a 60-day suspension.

In late December 2013, De La Torre was informed by track management that he must vacate his stalls by Dec. 31.

De La Torre’s court hearing was heard in Superior Court in Santa Ana by judge David Chaffee, who denied the temporary restraining order.

“We were pleased the court denied Mr. De La Torre’s attempt to force us to readmit him to the track,” track owner Ed Allred said in a statement. “We are convinced that his continued presence at Los Alamitos undermined the public’s confidence in racing.”

De La Torre, who won the 2012 All American Futurity with One Dashing Eagle, was one of the nation’s top Quarter Horse trainers in 2013. He finished the year ranked fourth in the nation with stable earnings of $3,274,223.