Trainer Rice Plans to Appeal Suspension

Legal representatives for Linda Rice plan to file an appeal over the three-year suspension and $50,000 fine she received May 17 that will likely allow her to continue training her New York-based stable of horses until the matter is adjudicated.

State regulators in New York had revoked Rice's license 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.

According to a report in the Daily Racing Form, attorney Andrew Turro will file the appeal on Rice's behalf.

Though the ruling was announced Monday, Rice has been able to run her stable. According to New York State Gaming Commission spokesperson Brad Maione, it generally takes 7-to-10 days for that type of suspension to take effect.

In the meantime, her pending legal action and the likelihood of an injunction will extend that time frame considerably.

Since Monday, Rice has sent out six horses at Belmont Park and Finger Lakes, winning May 21 with Voice of Spring  in the seventh race at Belmont.

The hearing officer for the NYSGC, 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. 

In her career, Rice has 2,107 wins and her earnings of $85.8 million are 32nd all-time and the most ever by a female trainer.