Photograph: Rob Simmons/Eclipse Sportswire
The Horse Racing Integrity and Security Authority has issued a discover of trigger towards coach Rudy Rodriguez alleging abuse of not less than 15 horses.
Since November 22, 2024, Rodriguez had been accountable for not less than 15 horses that had been listed by veterinarians however had not been subsequently evaluated or recognized for lameness, primarily based on entries within the HISA portal, in keeping with the discover.
The discover additionally alleges that since Dec. 13, 2024, he was accountable for not less than 4 horses with catastrophic musculoskeletal accidents.
“We have now cheap grounds to imagine that your actions or inactions pose an imminent hazard to the well being, security, or welfare of the topic horse (and) jockey because of a specified violation of the Authority’s racetrack security laws or accreditation laws,” HISA mentioned within the discover.
Within the violation discover, out there right herelists 14 horses that weren’t evaluated after being positioned on the veterinarian’s listing, and one horse that was positioned on the veterinarian’s listing however died within the secure six days later. The discover states that one other horse suffered deadly accidents through the race and died, however doesn’t point out any violations.
The discover was served on Nov. 21 and requested a preliminary listening to inside three enterprise days. Rodriguez’s lawyer, Clark Brewster, mentioned Rodriguez requested for extra time to reply.
Rodriguez didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Brewster mentioned solely one of many 16 horses remains to be in Rodriguez’s care.
“The remaining 15 had been both adopted out, had been on farms or one was bred final 12 months,” he mentioned. “So I believe that is data that in all probability wasn’t absolutely thought-about earlier than they despatched out the listing. A few of the horses ran final evening at a distinct venue and for a distinct coach.”
Coach Brewster mentioned the allegation is just, “‘You did not handle the horse.’ There is not any particular allegation. So relying on this subject, I believe we are able to make a really clear case of how the listing of veterinarians works, what the regulating veterinarian instructed, what was finished in response to the regulating veterinarian’s approval, the horse being returned to racing, issues like that.”
Mr Clark mentioned it was as much as regulatory veterinarians to determine and notify when horses ought to return to coaching. “Your physician does not have that possibility,” he says. “They work collectively and work collectively, and through that point the attending veterinarian could administer the treatment. Then it is reported and it exhibits up on the portal.”
“That is one other complicating issue. They gave me till Monday to reply. Properly, you may’t even go into the portal until you are the attending vet as a result of the horse has left the barn beneath the care of one other coach. We could not even get into the portal to reply the decision. We needed to go to them and say, are you able to give us again the portal data so we are able to report it? As a result of we will not even get in.”
Brewster mentioned he believed HISA had “excessive motivations and good intentions,” however mentioned he wished authorities had contacted Rodriguez earlier than submitting prices.
“In virtually all of those points, I do not know what (Rodriguez) may have finished in a different way,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned a lot of this may be attributed to the “labyrinth” of HISA guidelines.
“That is the character of speaking, being clear, attempting to collaborate. … I do not know what he may have finished in a different way on virtually all of those points. Now, I will let you know concerning the labyrinth of guidelines, however anybody who has learn HISA can have an actual debate about what equally educated folks need right here and there.”
Brewster additionally mentioned he has recognized Rodriguez for not less than 20 years, “and he is an incredible steward. … You by no means see something popping out of his barn that simply is not well-maintained.”
