Vets Wettstein, Loomis Suspended, Fined in Indiana

In stewards' rulings issued Nov. 7, two equine veterinarians based at Horseshoe Indianapolis were suspended 60 days and fined $5,000 for violations of Indiana Horse Racing Commission rules.

Dr. Nicole Wettstein and Dr. Cynthia Loomis were cited for violations "prohibiting the possession and/or use of drugs, substances, or medications that have both been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration" and other FDA and IHRC-related violations, including labeling.

The suspensions for Loomis and Wettstein, practitioners with Kentucky Equine Medical Associates, are scheduled from Nov. 7-Jan. 5, though Loomis has appealed.

Loomis said the IHRC searched a tack room July 5 on the backstretch in which the two veterinarians stored materials and equipment, "where we had everything locked up, equipment and machines and inventory. A lot of it was expired medications. It was on the shelf, not necessarily to be dispensed. Some of it was waiting to go back to home base, Louisville, to be disposed of properly."

She said she didn't receive any notification from the IHRC of a hearing based upon this search until after an administrative law judge ruled in her favor related to her being summarily suspended in Indiana this summer. That suspension, which expired after the judge's ruling, was for her allegedly treating of horses trained by Marvin Johnson against regulations at Horseshoe Indianapolis July 4.

This fall, the IHRC suspended Johnson and his wife, Christy, for a year apiece and fined them $5,000.