|01.23.2023|4:47pm
Steve Asmussen
On Monday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved hearing officer Eden Davis Stephens’ recommendation for a 30-day suspension to be issued to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, according to the Daily Racing Form. The suspension deals with a pair of positive tests in Asmussen-trained runners which raced in 2018.
Two Asmussen trainees tested positive for metabolites of the sedative Acepromazine: Thousand Percent after winning the second race at Churchill Downs on June 28, 2018; and Boldor after winning the sixth race at Keeneland on Oct. 25, 2018.
In late 2019, following a formal hearing before the stewards, the KHRC issued Asmussen a 30-day suspension and total $3,500 fine. An additional 30 days were stayed due to mitigating circumstances (number of violations due to overall record), pending no further violations for 365 days. Asmussen subsequently appealed.
A hearing on that appeal was conduced in August last year by hearing officer Jim Howard, who left the Public Protection Cabinet before making a recommendation. Hearing officer Eden Davis Stephens succeeded Howard, and based on the existing record she recommended a 30-day suspension for Asmussen in October of 2022.
Monday’s KHRC decision to approve the hearing officer’s recommendation did not come with a set date for Asmussen to serve the 30 days; the KHRC order did note that the action could be appealed in civil court.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
This entry was posted in The Biz by Paulick Report Staff. Bookmark the permalink.
