Trainer, Groom Face Fine, License Revocation

A groom for the trainer who recently won a national record 14 consecutive races has admitted rubbing cayenne pepper around the genitals of horses to make them run faster, investigators say.

Trainer Frank Passero Jr. and groom Abraham Siddo could be fined and their parimutuel licenses could be revoked. Passero said he and Siddo did nothing wrong.

The pepper was in a container labeled “Fiery Jack.” A warning label read, “Care should be taken to avoid sensitive parts of the body.”

“The placement of this product on the genitalia, anus and inner thighs constitutes an unconscionable and despicable act of animal cruelty,” said a six-page complaint signed by Deborah Miller, director of the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

Cruelty to animals is a felony, and any criminal charges would be filed by the state attorney’s office.

The incidents cited in the complaint against Passero occurred in the weeks after his winning streak ended Feb. 3.

“It’s been a set-up since I started to do good,” Passero said.

No results would be affected because cayenne pepper isn’t a banned substance in racing.

Passero denied that the pepper was applied to the genitals, or that his horses were mistreated.

“I’ve been using this material for 10 years, maybe more,” he said. “The muscle rub that they’re accusing me of using is no different than Whitey Ford using Ben-Gay.”

Passero and Siddo were served with complaints Saturday at Gulfstream Park and can request a hearing on the charges.