Trainer Rice's License Suspended at Least Three Years

State regulators in New York revoked the license of Thoroughbred trainer Linda Rice for her role in what officials say was a "corrupt" scheme to gain an edge with her horses by obtaining the names of entries in races before the cards became final.

The New York State Gaming Commission also fined Rice $50,000 and said she cannot re-apply for a license for three years.

The vote by the commissioners, who oversee racing policy and enforcement in New York, was 5-0.

The ruling came five months after a marathon hearing officer process—involving dozens of exhibits and 15 witnesses—into the Rice matter. The hearing officer, Clark Petschek, said in an April report to the gaming commission that Rice engaged in intentional and "corrupt" conduct to gain confidential information on horses entered in a race. 

Robert Williams, the agency's executive director, said Rice's conduct was "inconsistent and detrimental" to racing.

Three years ago, it was alleged Rice made payments to New York Racing Association officials in order to obtain names of horses entered in upcoming races. The commission previously revoked the licenses of a NYRA racing clerk and a jockey agent.

Rice, a trainer for 35 years and the only woman to capture the trainer's award at Saratoga Race Course, has denied wrongdoing. Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The wrongdoing alleged by the commission occurred from 2011-15 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The commission called the acts "corrupt,'' and said Rice was given regular and "improper access" to information that may have provided her an edge in races.

A revocation by the board means Rice is barred from having any Thoroughbred racing interests in New York State.

In other action, the Gaming Commission gave final approval to several new rules, including:

• Adoption of a model rule crafted by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium to regulate clenbuterol, a drug used to treat lower airway diseases in horses but which can also build up muscle and reduce fat. The rule states that an attending veterinarian must get the commission's approval before using the drug and then the horse must be found negative for presence of the drug in its blood and urine before being taken off a veterinarian's list. Horses cannot race for a minimum of 14 days after administration of the drug.
• Making New York's thresholds for controlled therapeutic medications in conformance with national model rules of the Association of Racing Commissioners International for three drugs: detomidine, omeprazole, and eylazine.
• Tweaking Lasix rules whereby race-day administration of the drug can only be performed by an independent, third party veterinarian and not a vet employed or contracted with a trainer or owner. Four comments were received during a public comment period from veterinarians who suggested the rule should be different for Finger Lakes because of difficulties in attracting veterinarians to that upstate track.