NYRA's Vitali Hearing Pushed Back to May

The New York Racing Association's administrative hearing to consider charges against trainer Marcus Vitali has been adjourned until a yet-to-be-determined date in May.

A hearing before former New York State Court of Appeals Judge Robert Smith had been scheduled for April 4.

Vitali's lengthy list of violations and suspensions prevented him from having a starter from July 21, 2019, until Jan. 4, 2021. During that time he was suspended for 365 days in 2019 by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission for impeding an investigation.

In 2016, he gave up his trainer's license in Florida while facing penalties for seven medication violations, though he later accepted a 120-day suspension.

In its statement of charges against Vitali, NYRA cited that from 2010 through 2020, he amassed an extensive record of medication violations, lengthy suspensions, improperly using "program" or "paper" trainers during suspensions, and obstructing an investigation into alleged wrongdoing. NYRA also charged that in the past five years, he was denied entry, ejected, and/or had license applications denied by regulators in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Delaware; and was sanctioned for violating a racing statute, rule, or regulation relating to prohibited or restricted drugs, medications, or substances seven times in a single year. 

A winner of 912 races in his career, Vitali has seven wins from 36 starts this year while racing at Turf Paradise.