The Breeders' Cup board of directors has unanimously voted to modify its convicted trainer rule to prohibit the pre-entry or entry of any horse found to have tested positive for any substance listed under class one or class two, penalty category A, in the 12-month period preceding the World Championships, it was announced Oct. 25.
As part of the board revision of the convicted trainer rule, Breeders' Cup will also implement rule modifications prohibiting the participation in the Breeders' Cup World Championships by assistant trainers or other employees that an affected trainer may transfer horses to following the imposition of sanctions.
The rule modifications will be implemented for the 2015 Breeders' Cup and all subsequent Championships.
In announcing the rule changes, William S. Farish Jr., chairman of the Breeders' Cup, stated that, "Our board is strongly committed to the principle that the most important asset of the Breeders' Cup is integrity, and there is no place in the Championships for those who are unable to comport with the rules prohibiting the administration of prohibited substances."
While the contemplated changes will not be applicable for the 2014 event coming up at Santa Anita Park Oct. 31-Nov. 1, Craig Fravel, Breeders' Cup president and CEO, indicated that the goal of the rule changes is to put owners and trainers on notice that serious medication violations will have consequences at the highest level of the sport.
"We are hopeful that in selecting a trainer, owners will exercise the utmost care to assure themselves that a horse in that trainer's care will not be treated improperly," Fravel said. "A commitment to playing by the rules is vital to the future of the sport."
This year, W. C. Racing's defending Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents will start in the race under the name of Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill. O'Neill is serving a 45-day suspension in California and was barred from entering horses in the Breeders' Cup.