Top Iowa trainer suspended

ALTOONA, Iowa - Dick Clark, the all-time leading trainer at Prairie Meadows and president of the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, has received a 14-day suspension and a $1,000 fine from the Prairie Meadows stewards for a procaine positive on Omarfairleygreen, who ran second in the sixth race, a $4,000 claiming event, here June 12.

Clark has been granted a stay by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission and will continue to train pending his appeal. Clark is being represented by attorney Maggi Moss for whom he trains a string of horses. Clark is the leading trainer at the current mixed meet and finished second in the standings behind Stanley Roberts during the Thoroughbred meet here that ended in July.

Procaine is a Class 3 drug according to the guidelines of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Clark's positive marks the second straight year a leading trainer has received a suspension for a Class 3 positive here. In 2000, Ray Tracy, Jr., the leading trainer at the Thoroughbred meet here in 1999 and 2000, received a 120-day suspension for a gunanoabenz positive. Trainers Ted LaTour and Howard Scarberry also were suspended 120 days each for gunanoabenz positives here last year.

State steward Ralph D'Amico said he could not comment on the length of Clark's suspension because the ruling is under appeal.