Trainer Richard Vega handed two-year suspension for 'loaded syringes'

Richard Vega, a trainer based at Parx Racing with a prolific record of starters for decades, has been suspended two years by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission after a search of a tack room used by the trainer turned up “loaded syringes” and hypodermic needles, according to a ruling from the commission.

Vega was issued the 730-day suspension on June 29, according to the ruling, four days after stewards at Parx held a hearing to discuss the charges. Vega was summarily suspended by the stewards on May 27, six days after investigators for the commission fanned out on the Parx backstretch to conduct unannounced searches, including one of the tack room Vega used, officials have said.

Alan Pincus, the attorney for Vega, said that he filed a motion for a temporary injunction in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on Tuesday morning. The motion argues for a stay of the suspension until Vega can have a hearing in front of the racing commission, Pincus said.

A commission hearing on Vega’s appeal of the penalty has not yet been scheduled, Pincus said.

The ruling issued on June 29 says that the search of Vega’s “locked” tack room turned up “21 loaded syringes, 18 needles, one intravenous filled bag, and one intravenous catheter.” It is a violation for a trainer to possess hypodermic needles on the backstretch.

The ruling does not contain any information on what substances were contained in the syringes or the IV bag. Generally, racing commissions send contraband found on the backstretch to laboratories for identification.

Vega has not started a horse since May 19, two days prior to the search. He has started 6,398 horses in his career, with 1,115 wins and $19.5 million in purse money. This year, he has started 46 horses and has six wins.