Pennsylvania commission strips four vets of licenses

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has revoked the licenses of four racetrack veterinarians who entered guilty pleas last month to illegally administering substances to horses on race day, according to copies of the rulings provided by the commission.

Under the rulings, the four veterinarians – Kevin Brophy, Christopher Korte, Fernando Motta, and Renee Nodine – had their licenses revoked indefinitely under a state rule that requires the commission to “suspend, refuse to renew or revoke a license … if it shall determine the applicant or licensee has been convicted of an offense related to fixing races.” The rulings noted that all four veterinarians admitted to administering drugs to horses on race day at Penn National in plea agreements reached with the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.

Announced on March 26, the plea agreements state that the veterinarians have agreed to cooperate with an investigation by U.S. prosecutors. In 2013, federal prosecutors charged three trainers at Penn National with conspiring to fix races based on the race-day administration of drugs.

Under the plea agreements, the veterinarians face a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, plus a $2,000 fine.