Six Trainers Expected to Face Horse-Drugging Charges

The trainers involved in the state’s newest horse-drugging investigation of clenbuterol are a cross-section of horsemen who include Darrell Vienna, winner of a Breeders’ Cup race in 1992, and Ted West, who saddled the 1984 Santa Anita Handicap winner.

Others expected to be named soon in allegations from the California Horse Racing Board include Bruce Headley, Vladimir Cerin, Declan Jackson and Peter Eurton, according to officials close to the investigation. All six will be charged with running horses that tested positive for clenbuterol, a drug that can help horses with reversible respiratory problems. A syrup containing clenbuterol was legalized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 11 and can be used for horses in training in California, but post-race positive tests for clenbuterol are grounds for disqualification, loss of purse money and sanctions against trainers because the drug is capable of improving performance.

The positive clenbuterol test for Vienna’s horse, Closed Escrow, is believed to have come after the mare won the $144,975 Soviet Problem Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on May 25. Closed Escrow’s share of the purse was $93,285. Northern California jockeys who rode horses that finished behind Closed Escrow are anticipating a disqualification and have been talking openly about how the winner’s positive urine test will increase their commissions from the race.

Vienna, who is based at Del Mar, has declined comment, referring questions to his attorney, Robert Forgnone. There was no comment Wednesday from Forgnone, who said that he wouldn’t have anything to say until the state issues charges.

Vienna won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Gilded Time in 1992 and the colt was later voted an Eclipse award as top 2-year-old male. West won the 1984 Santa Anita Handicap with Interco. Headley has been training since 1959, most of his success coming with California-breds. He saddled Bertrando for a second-place finish behind Arazi in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Cerin has trained Rotsaluck, a multiple stakes winner, and Treekster, winner of the California Derby at Golden Gate in 1992. Through July, Eurton had won with three of 33 starters this year. Through the Hollywood Park meet that closed on July 27, Jackson hadn’t won any races this year.

The Golden Gate race is the second recent stake to have come under state scrutiny. Free House, one of the best older horses in training and winner of last year’s Santa Anita Derby, tested positive for clenbuterol following his win in the $106,100 Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 11. Under California regulations, a trainer isn’t prosecuted if a horse’s urine sample is sent to a second laboratory and comes back negative. The results for Free House from the independent lab are pending.

“I never gave my horse that stuff [clenbuterol],” said an angry Paco Gonzalez, who trains Free House. “I don’t know how this could have happened. Why have they named my horse and nobody else’s?”

When the racing board announced last week that 20 urine samples had tested positive for clenbuterol, it did not name trainers or horses. Free House’s name surfaced as the result of persistent backstretch rumors at Del Mar about a first positive test, confirmed Monday by Gonzalez.

In 1992, Vienna, Headley and Cerin raced horses that tested positive for clenbuterol, but their cases were dismissed. The racing board fired its executive secretary, Dennis Hutcheson, for his role in the dismissals.

After the charges are filed, the trainers will receive hearings before an administrative law judge, whose opinions will be given to the racing board for further action.