Connections of Delaware Horse Suspended for Actions

A trainer, assistant, and owner have been suspended and fined by Delaware stewards after the stewards determined that an ordered treatment of a horse was to take away any lameness so that the horse could breeze and be removed from the state veterinarian's list to race.

A veterinarian's list, kept by a regulatory veterinarian, notes unsound or recovering horses that are prohibited from entering races before they've fully recovered from physical issues or an established time frame.

Stewards noted in Oct. 15 rulings that the horse, Food and Wine , pulled up lame after working a half-mile Oct. 3 at Delaware Park.

Trainer Linda Manchio, 76, has been suspended 30 days (Oct. 20-Nov. 18) and fined $2,500; assistant trainer Belinda Manchio, 58, has been suspended 15 days (Oct. 18-Nov. 1) and fined $1,000; and owner Jose Rosales, 37, has been suspended 30 days (Oct. 20-Nov. 18) and fined $2,500.

The rulings, designated as rulings for improper or inhumane treatment of an animal, note that Food and Wine returned sore and was placed on the state vet's list after his last race on June 2, the seventh race at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old War Front   gelding won that start, an allowance run at about one mile and 70 yards, in gate-to-wire fashion. (The Delaware Racing Commission disqualified Food and Wine from that win after a blood sample exceeded the threshold limit for methocarbamol; a split sample confirmed the finding and Linda Manchio was fined $1,000).

In order to be removed from the veterinarian's list, Food and Wine was required to work and have blood drawn.

Stewards said that on June 14, the practicing veterinarian performed an ultrasound on Food and Wine and the ultrasound revealed a bowed tendon with a 50% tear. The practicing veterinarian recommended the gelding receive eight to 12 months off to recover.

Food and Wine, back in training, breezed three furlongs in :38 Sept. 25 at Delaware Park. Rosales, the owner, contacted the state veterinarian to schedule a breeze in order to have Food and Wine removed from the veterinarian's list and be eligible to race. The work came Oct. 3, when Food and Wine traveled four furlongs in :50 3/5 before pulling up lame. The gelding remained on the veterinarian's list.

The rulings continue to state that and Food and Wine was treated in August with prednisolone pills and Naquasone (trichlormethiazide) powder. Rosales ordered the treatment of Naquasone Sept. 27 and an injection of dexamethasone on Sept. 27-28 for Food and Wine, the days leading up to the Oct. 3 work.

Stewards determined that the ordered treatments by Rosales for Food and Wine were to take away any lameness so that Food and Wine could work and be removed from the veterinarian's list to race.

The rulings state that Linda Manchio, Belinda Manchio, and Rosales did not follow the recommendation of the practicing veterinarian for Food and Wine, that the connections' conduct adversely affects the public's confidence in the reputation of Thoroughbred racing in Delaware, and that their conduct is not in the best interest of horse racing.

The rulings also note that Linda Manchio shall bear primary responsibility for the proper care, health, training, condition, safety, and protection of horses in her charge and that Belinda Manchio shall assume those same duties and responsibilities as imposed on a registered trainer authorized by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.

Linda Manchio failed to appear when noticed before the board of stewards at Delaware Park in a hearing Oct. 15, her ruling states. The rulings also note that during testimony in this matter, Linda Manchio has not been to Delaware Park in 2021 and that her stable has been in the care of her assistant, Belinda Manchio.

Belinda Manchio and Rosales both appeared before the board of stewards at Delaware Park for hearings Oct. 15. Both also waived their right to counsel.

Belinda Manchio was originally scheduled to start her suspension Oct. 20, but after contacting the stewards asking for a request to start her suspension two days earlier, an amendment to her ruling was granted by the board of stewards.  

As of the afternoon of Oct. 19, neither Linda Manchio, Belinda Manchio, nor Rosales had appealed the matter, according to DTRC executive director Sarah Crane. It was unclear if any of the connections plan to appeal.