Racehorse Tests Positive for Methamphetamine After Winning Run in Ohio

After winning a race at the MGM Northfield Park in Ohio, a racehorse known as Gardys Legacy A has tested positive for methamphetamine, Aso Naija Reports.

The blood test, conducted on September 3, confirmed the presence of D-methamphetamine, which is considered a Class 1 Category A offense by the U.S. Trotting Association.

Also, the Ohio State Racing Commission took action. They suspended trainer Samuel Schillaci for a period of one year and imposed a fine of $1,000.

Additionally, the Standardbred horse was disqualified, and the $4,500 winnings were returned.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal rights organization, is now calling for a ban on the trainer, criticizing the punishment as inadequate.

PETA’s Senior Vice President, Kathy Guillermo, expressed her dissatisfaction, stating that the fine and suspension were not proportional to the severity of the violation.

Additionally, she emphasized that administering methamphetamine puts the horse’s life at risk and suggested that trainers who exhibit such callousness may pose a danger to other horses as well.

Guillermo urged the commission to prioritize the safety of Gardys Legacy A and all the other horses in Schillaci’s barn.

However, she argued that individuals who demonstrate such cruelty, even once, display a clear disregard for regulations and should be permanently barred from competing in the state for the sake of creating a safer environment for all participants.

Subsequently, the Ohio State Racing Commission stated to FOX 8 in Cleveland that the judges had imposed the maximum penalty allowed by law.