Stewards Deny Entries of Baltas' Horses at Los Alamitos

Stewards at Los Alamitos Race Course denied entries of horses trained by Richard Baltas during the ongoing meeting there, according to California Horse Racing Board public information officer Mike Marten.

Baltas has appealed that decision by the stewards, though a hearing related to that decision has not been scheduled, Marten indicated.

Baltas had a complaint issued against him June 21 by the CHRB, a month and a half after track operator 1/ST Racing began prohibiting him from racing or breezing horses at Santa Anita Park and other 1/ST Racing tracks pending an investigation. Many of the horses from his California stable have been dispersed to other trainers.

Los Alamitos Race Course is owned by Ed Allred, while 1/ST Racing owns and operates Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields in the state. Del Mar begins its summer meet in Southern California later this month.

In the complaint, the board stated between April 15 and May 8, 23 of Baltas' horses were captured on surveillance video being administered higenamine and paeonol by members of Baltas' staff.  According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, higenamine is a stimulant that is classified as a beta-2 agonist. Paeonol, according to the National Library of Medicine, has been used for decades as an anti-inflammatory for people.

A hearing related to the complaint is scheduled Aug. 3, Marten said—after which a ruling could be issued.