McGaughey Facing 15-Day Ban for Acepromazine Violation

Trainer Shug McGaughey has been suspended and fined $500 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for an overage of acepromazine in Smokin' T , who was second in the June 4 Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs.

According to the stewards ruling, McGaughey waived his right to a formal hearing.

Though the suspension was originally listed at 30 days, it will be reduced to 15 days because of the Hall of Fame trainer's limited number of violations in a lengthy career, provided he does not commit a Class A or B drug violation in the next year.

McGaughey will be suspended from Dec. 5-19, according to the ruling.

Acepromazine is a tranquilizer that is considered a Class B violation according to the Association of Racing Commissioners International when found above posted limits. In Kentucky, the threshold for the drug is 10 nanograms per mililiter. Smokin' T's post-race urine test showed 2-1-(hydroxyethyl) promazine sulfoxide (HEPS) at a level of 61.2 nanograms .

Smokin' T was disqualified from his runner-up finish in the Audubon and purse money was redistributed by the KHRC.

McGaughey has won more than 2,200 races in his career and is 10th on the all-time earnings list with $165.2 million.

In a career that dates back to 1978, McGaughey has just three drug violations, with the other two coming in 1983 and 2020.