The Kentucky Equestrian Commission approved on January 23 the state hearing officer’s recommendation to suspend coach Steve Asmussen for 30 days.
Eden Davis Stephens made the recommendation in December after testing twice for drugs from a trained Asmussen horse in 2018. Stephens made the recommendation in an October 28 report obtained by BloodHorse earlier in the year. an open record request.
According to the Daily Racing Form, the KHRC’s decision “can be appealed in civil court” and the order “does not have a start date for the suspension.”
Trainee Asmussen Thousand percent and reckless tested above the threshold for the metabolite of Acepromazine, a sedative, in June 2018 at Churchill Downs and October 2018 at Keeneland after winning their respective races.
Following the September 2019 hearing, Stewards granted a concurrent suspension of 30 days in each case and an additional 30 days in the second of the suspension for one year subject to non-compliance of Class A or Class A violations. B. He was also subject to forfeiture of his wallet and a $1,000 and $2,500 fine. The suspension is upheld pending an appeal.
The DRF reports that the KHRC’s order indicates that Asmussen’s attorney, Clark Brewster “tried to argue that acepromazine was administered to two horses prior to their race.” But the KHRC “determined that it was inappropriate for Mr. Asmussen to administer acepromazine to Thousand Percent and Boldor at any time, because Mr. Asmussen had failed to follow the committee’s instructions for (intravenous) use.” “
