PA Trainer Taylor's Suspension Increased to Eight Years

Pennsylvania-based trainer Joe Taylor, who appealed the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's six-year suspension and $50,000 fine after two of his runners tested positive for banned substances, has received stiffer penalties from an arbitrator. According to postings on the HIWU website, his suspension is now to last eight years, and his fine is $100,000.

A full report from the arbitrator was not immediately posted on the HIWU website.

Taylor said arbitrator Jeffrey Benz gave him two-year suspensions for each of the infractions, four in total, from the two horses. The Taylor-trained Classy American  and Cajun Cousin , both of whom ran second at Parx Racing last June, each tested positive for methylphenidate and clenbuterol. 

Methylphenidate, often known by its brand name Ritalin, is a stimulant used in humans to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Clenbuterol is a Beta-2 agonist and bronchodilator that has been abused in equines due to muscle-development properties.

Taylor claims he was the victim of tampering with the two horses. He said last summer that he was going through a bitter divorce. 

According to Taylor, Benz indicated he felt Taylor was using his wife as a safety net in case he received a positive, which he felt was contrary to the evidence.

Taylor said he could appeal again, but he views that as a "waste of time."

"There's nobody telling them, nobody overseeing them, what they can and what they can't do," Taylor said.