Trainer Suspended for Excessive Drug Levels in Wait for the Lady

Trainer King Leatherbury has been suspended 15 days because of an extremely large dose of Butazolidin, a powerful analgesic, reported in a test of the filly Wait for The Lady, who won the fourth event at Pimlico Race Course Sept. 15.

The filly tested at 4.2 micrograms per milliliter of blood plasma more than is permitted under Maryland rules.

Leatherbury lodged an appeal Tuesday, so the suspension by the stewards that was to start Monday will not go into effect until his case is heard by the Maryland Racing Commission.

Trainers are permitted to train with Butazolidin, and traces of the medication are allowed in the blood test of horses. No positive is usually reported until the Butazolidin level is 2.5 micrograms per milliliter of blood plasma.

Wait For The Lady tested at 6.7 micrograms of Butazolidin by the racing commission laboratory and, when the sample was sent to a second lab for confirmation, it was reported at 6.4.

Wait for the Lady was disqualified and placed out of the money.

Because the sample tested so high, Leatherbury said he believes “it was either tested wrong or it was sabotage.”

“I didn’t do anything,” he said. “This was so much that it had to be an accident. It’s not like somebody deciding to give the Bute a couple of hours later than usual and hoping the lab won’t pick it up. This was too high. Everyone at my barn knows that Bute shows up in the test and they know you lose the purse. This disqualification cost the owner (Elaine Bassford) $10,200.”