Mountaineer's Leading Trainer Suspended

Edward Clouston, the runaway leader in the trainers’ standings at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, has been fined $1,500 and suspended 15 days for a medication violation, with an additional 30 days added as a result having two offenses within a 365-day period.

According to stewards at the West Virginia track, Clouston-trained So Frank, the second-place finisher in the fifth race June 12, tested positive for the medication betamethasone, a corticosteroid categorized as a Class 4 drug that carries a Class C penalty. Class 4 drugs “have a more limited ability to influence the performance of a racehorse,” according to the stewards.

Clouston, whose 70 wins far outpace second leading trainer Jay Berardini’s 31 victories, elected not to send a split sample of the positive test to another lab for testing.

The ruling states that Clouston had a horse test positive for the Class 4 medication carbazochrome in 2015, and under the multiple medication violation system, was assessed the additional 30-day suspension. So Frank was disqaulified from any purse monies.

Clouston has appealed the suspension, scheduled to run July 21-Sept. 3, and a hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 15.

According to The Jockey Club Information Systems, Clouston is winning at a 26% rate, with 73 wins from 281 starts this year and stable earnings of $441,872.