Handal Faces Banned Substance Charge From HIWU

New York-based trainer Ray Handal will face up to a two-year suspension after the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit alleged one of his runners tested positive for a banned substance.

In a public disclosure posted to its website July 1, HIWU, the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, said the Handal-trained Barrage  tested positive for the banned substance zeranol after finishing second in an allowance optional claiming race May 28 at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old War Dancer   gelding, owned by Theresa and David Palmer, lost by a half-length at odds of 15-1.

According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, zeranol is a veterinary drug approved for use in livestock in the United States, including beef cattle. Sold under the brand name Ralgro, zeranol is a growth promoter in cattle and is also used in sheep. It is not approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use in horses.

Handal was cited for an alleged violation of rule 3212—presence of a banned substance and/or its metabolites or markers. The latest disclosure from HIWU is for a finding that has not been adjudicated. 

The 34-year-old Handal did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Handal, who also will face up to a $25,000 fine, has trained horses since 2014 and his runners have purse earnings in excess of $12 million. He has trained 236 winners from 1,481 starters through June 30. He is 28-for-130 this year while racing mostly at New York Racing Association tracks and other racetracks in the northeast.

"NYRA has been alerted via HIWU that a horse under the care of trainer Ray Handal has tested positive for the banned substance zeranol. According to HISA rules, Handal is now under a provisional suspension nationally and cannot participate at NYRA tracks effective today," said Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for NYRA.

His three runners entered Saturday were scratched: two at Belmont Park and another in the Delaware Oaks (G3) at Delaware Park.

As a non-approved substance, the zeranol finding could result in up to a 14-month suspension of the horse, Barrage, who has earnings of $189,189 in 15 starts. Most recently, Barrage finished fifth in a follow-up start June 23 at Belmont Park in another optional claiming race.