NYRA to review trainer Potts' stable, racing eligibility
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In the wake of a series of violations and penalties incurred by trainer Wayne Potts, the New York Racing Association is determining whether to continue to allow him to stable and race at its three tracks, according to a NYRA spokesman.
On Friday, Potts and his assistant, Bonnie Lucas, were suspended 30 days by the New Jersey Racing Commission for “conduct detrimental to racing.” The suspension would coincide with the May 7 opening of the Monmouth Park meet and last through June 5.
The suspension, which Potts said Saturday he and Lucas plan to appeal, stems from an incident in August at Monmouth Park, where the New Jersey state veterinarian wanted to van a horse trained by Potts and owned by Lucas off the track after a race, but Lucas did not permit it.
“We’re appealing it,” Potts said. “We had a hearing at Monmouth last year and the state veterinarian who decided this never showed up to the hearing. So, they just posted this [Friday], at 4:30, 4:45, and I couldn’t even call to put in the appeal. So I have to call Monday morning and appeal that.”
The suspension for Potts is at least the third penalty Potts has received since last June. In the fall, Potts served a 20-day suspension handed him by the New York stewards for a violation of claiming rules. Potts also is contesting a 15-day medication positive handed him by the Monmouth stewards for a positive test for Flunixin in the post-race sample from Kentucky Cool out of a June 5 race at the New Jersey track. Potts said there is a hearing scheduled for April on that case.
In October 2020, Potts was banned from stabling and racing at Pimlico and Laurel by Maryland Jockey Club officials, who allege he served as a paper trainer for Marcus Vitali, a trainer who was on suspension. Potts has denied those accusations and has been stabled at Belmont and running in New York for more than a year. Potts, who also has a string at Oaklawn Park, won Saturday’s third race at Aqueduct with Handy.
As Potts has been suspended by both the New Jersey and New York regulatory bodies in the last five months, Pat McKenna, NYRA’s vice president/communications, said Saturday that Potts’ ability to stable and race in New York is going to be reviewed.
“NYRA is gathering the necessary facts to support a statement of charges and a formal administrative hearing to potentially suspend Mr. Potts from participating in racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course,” McKenna said. “In the near term, NYRA is determining immediate options such as revoking his stall allotment at Belmont Park.”
Coincidentally, the NYRA is holding a formal administrative hearing on Monday regarding trainer Bob Baffert, who has no rulings against him in New York, but who could face discipline from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a medication violation regarding 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.
McKenna called the decision to not allow a horse to be vanned off “a particularly egregious breach of [Potts’] most fundamental responsibility as a trainer - to ensure the well-being of horses under his care.”
Potts said Saturday that neither he nor Lucas had a formal hearing regarding the incident at Monmouth in August. That day, the Potts-trained, Lucas-owned Chispita finished second in a $7,500 claimer.
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“The state vet said she wanted to van the horse off and Bonnie said ‘For what? the horse looks fine,’ " Potts said. “So, [Lucas] walked the horse off the racetrack and went down to the holding barn. They let the horse walk from the holding barn back to our barn so the horse wasn’t that bad, obviously, or they would have vanned it back.”
A claim had been put in for the horse, which was later voided by the track veterinarian.
Potts on Saturday sent Daily Racing Form a short video of Chispita jogging after the Aug.6 race and the horse did not show signs of being lame.
Chispita has not raced since that day and, according to Potts, is currently turned out on a farm. Chispita has raced three times for Potts. On June 25, Chispita dropped her rider out of the gate and suffered a cut on a shoulder. On July 24, she won a maiden $10,000 claimer before the Aug. 6 race.