The Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday fined a Utah trainer $5,000 and revoked his license for his horse’s testing positive for cocaine after winning a race last summer at the Elko County Fairgrounds. The punishment handed down by the Commission came at the request of the Board of Stewards that suggested a greater punishment than the $1,000 fine and 180-day suspension it was limited to under Nevada law. The Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended the Commission follow their suggestion for the punishment ultimately handed down.
Trainer Alvaro Torres won’t be able to seek another license for five years, even though he told state regulators that he doesn’t know how cocaine got into his horse’s system. Torres, who didn’t attend Thursday’s meeting, is still considered responsible despite the denial.
Other states will also recognize Nevada’s ban on Torres’ ability to train horses.
In August, Saime Pro finished first in the second race and paid $11.80 to win. It was a maiden special-weight 300-yard quarter-horse race.
By winning, the horse was submitted for mandatory drug testing and the test results discovered cocaine, a forbidden substance, in the horse’s system. The winnings from the $7,000 purse were later redistributed.
Deputy Attorney General John Michela outlined the case to the Commissioners, who were outraged by the conduct and wondered if animal-cruelty charges or drug-possession charges could be pursued. They were concerned about all the horses in the field and the jockeys.
“Cocaine could have killed that horse and that would constitute animal cruelty,” said Commission member and former judge Abbi Silver. “It could be a criminal penalty.”
Andrew Olsen, an agent for the Gaming Control Board, said that can’t be done because it’s unknown who put the cocaine in the horse’s system, especially when test results come out three weeks after they’re administered.
“I spoke to the trainer and he claims he has no idea how the substance got into the horse and would not provide any answers as to where that drug could have come from,” Olsen said.
In response to concern from commissioners, Olsen said the horse is okay.
“It’s such an egregious action,” Commission member Brian Krolicki said to Olsen. “We all share the outrage, but you calmed me down. Not only do I support what the Gaming Control Board has recommended but wondered why it wouldn’t be longer. I can’t assume the trainer was responsible. He was responsible legally from a gaming aspect, but there is in theory doubt how the narcotic got into the horse. I accept that, and I just wished we knew who it was.”
