Trainer Pish begins 15-day suspension

Trainer Danny Pish on Sunday begins serving a 15-day suspension for a medication violation in November at Retama Park, according to a ruling from the Texas Racing Commission.

The suspension extends to other jurisdictions where Pish races, including Arkansas and Louisiana. The suspension runs through March 11. Joseph Smith, who has been an assistant to Pish, was named as the trainer of record for former Pish horses entered in races Sunday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Pish was cited after one of the horses in his care tested positive for O-desmethyltramadol, a Class 2 substance, according to the ruling. (O-desmethyltramadol is a metabolite of the pain-killer Tramadol.) The horse, Vincitore, won the Nov. 11 race at Retama and has since been disqualified and the purse ordered redistributed. Pish also was fined $500.

Pish waived his right to both a hearing and an appeal, but an informal hearing was held at his request, according to the ruling.

"It was accidental environmental contamination and it's unfortunate for my owners," Pish said.

Pish said the horse's regular exercise rider, who also ponied the horse to post, had a prescription for Tramadol.

The ruling is a rare infraction of any sort for Pish, a winner of 2,228 races since he launched his career in 1995. He is a perennial leading trainer at Retama.