Trainer Rojas pleads not guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy

Trainer Murray Rojas has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of federal wire fraud and conspiracy that were handed down by federal prosecutors in an investigation linked to allegations of the illegal administration of drugs to horses on race day, according to court records.

Rojas, 49, entered the plea on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, Pa., according to the records. Jury selection for a trial has been set for Nov. 2.

Rojas was indicted on 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy on Aug. 12 for allegedly directing veterinarians to administer substances to horses on race day, in violation of state racing rules, in 11 races in 2013 at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa. The indictment was brought by the U.S.

District Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which has charged other trainers based at Penn National with similar offenses over the past two years as the result of a wide-ranging investigation of the track’s backstretch.

Four months ago, four veterinarians based at Penn National accepted plea agreements requiring them to cooperate with the district attorney’s investigation. The veterinarians were charged with administering substances to horses on race day.

According to the indictment, Rojas also allegedly backdated veterinary records to cover up the fact that the substances were administered on race day.