Trainer Joseph Taylor receives six-year suspension
Joseph Taylor, who was a leading trainer at Parx Racing outside of Philadelphia in the late 2010s, has been suspended six years by the Horseracing Integrity and Wagering Unit for violations involving two banned substances in two of his horses that raced at Parx in June.
The two horses, Classy American and Cajun Cousin, both tested positive for clenbuterol, a strictly regulated bronchial dilator that is prohibited in a post-race test, and methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant. Taylor was issued a provisional suspension after the positives were reported.
Taylor took out his trainer’s license in 2010 but made limited starts that year and in the next. In 2016, he returned to training and had a meteoric rise at Parx over the next several years, topping the trainer’s standings in 2019. His starts and winnings began falling off rapidly after that year. For his career, he has 327 wins from 2,011 starts, with purse earnings of $9.7 million.
According to HIWU, Taylor admitted the violations and accepted the penalties.
Taylor also was fined a total of $50,000. The two horses were disqualified from their races.
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Clenbuterol is only allowed to be given to a horse with a prescription that is reported to regulatory veterinarians, and a horse has to test negative for the substance in order to be eligible to race. Although it has uses in treating pulmonary problems, the drug is notorious as a performance-enhancer when used regularly. Under regular administrations, the drug acts as a muscle-builder.
Methylphenidate is a banned substance that is a Class 1 drug under the Association of Racing Commissioners International classification system. Class 1 drugs have the highest potential for abuse.
Both Classy American and Cajun Cousin were suspended 14 months from the date of the positives. Shortly after testing positive, the horses were transferred to other trainers, and they both have made starts in West Virginia in the past two months. HIWU does not have jurisdiction in West Virginia due to a court decision that has been appealed.
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