Taylor Suspended Six Years for Banned Substances

Trainer Joseph Taylor has been banned six years and fined $50,000 after two of his trainees tested positive for banned substances. 

Taylor, based out of Parx Racing, was sanctioned based on the "admission of EAD rule violation and acceptance of consequences," per the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's website. 

Cajun Cousin  and Classy American  tested positive for methylphenidate and clenbuterol and are provisionally suspended after their positive tests. The trainer told BloodHorse this summer he believes the two horses were tampered with by an individual or individuals intent on damaging his reputation. He said the infractions come at a difficult time for him as he is in the midst of a divorce.

He said he also had two clenbuterol positives in September 2022 in Pennsylvania, and the horses involved in the June cases were stabled in the same stalls in easy-to-access locations—evidence, in his view, of tampering.

"I will never accept admittance to giving drugs to my horses," he said Oct. 20. "I will accept the responsibility of my horses getting them, and if I never train another horse the rest of my life, at least I'll leave with my dignity now that I would never do something like that."

Taylor forwarded to BloodHorse email communications with Zach Ceriani, HIWU investigations counsel, seeking to withdraw his acceptance of the violations based on confusion related to consequences, which Taylor said included the length of his suspensions.

HIWU confirmed the authenticity of the emails. The organization noted the sanctions were imposed after admission documents signed by Taylor.

According to HIWU, such documents signed by the individual state that a person committed the violations and accepted the consequences. Taylor has 30 days from signing the admission to seek review from an administrative law judge at the Federal Trade Commission. Withdrawal requests are also allowed in this 30-day period.

Taylor, in his eighth year as a trainer, was the top trainer at Parx in 2019, second in 2020, and third in 2018. His career record stands at 327-331-290 from 2,011 starts with $9,691,380 in earnings.

The National Institutes of Health describes Methylphenidate as a "powerful central nervous system stimulant with a high potential for abuse in horse racing." The NIH lists clenbuterol as a "potent selective bronchodilator that is used to treat bronchospasm."

Classy American finished second in a June 20 allowance race at Parx prior to being disqualified. The Uncle Lino gelding's provisional suspension lasts 14 months dating back to the race date and all purses, compensation, and prizes are forfeited. There is also a $12,500 fine for each violation. 

Cajun Cousin, a Cajun Breeze filly, finished second in a June 18 claiming race and first in another July 12 prior to her disqualifications. She faces the same penalties as Classy American retroactively to June 18.

-Byron King contributed to this story