Grade 1-winning trainer Richard Baltas was handed a one year suspension by the Del Mar stewards Dec. 2 for the oral administration of "X-treme Air Boost" among other substances on race day. He was found to have violated California Horse Racing Board Rule #1902 and Rule #1843.5 21 times between April 15 through May 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Additionally, Baltas was ordered by the stewards to pay a fine of $10,000.
In accordance with the ruling, Baltas will begin his suspension Dec. 9 and continue through Dec. 8, 2023. Baltas' license and license privileges are suspended from all California tracks under the California Horse Racing Board, which includes Del Mar, Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Golden Gate Fields.
Baltas was previously banned from training and racing horses at Santa Anita and Golden Gate, which are owned by 1/ST Racing. Los Alamitos also previously denied entries of horses trained by Baltas during their summer meeting.
The Dec. 2 ruling follows the CHRB investigation where Baltas' horses were captured on surveillance video being administered a pair of substances—higenamine, a stimulant, and paeonol, an anti-inflammatory—by members of Baltas' staff.
BLOODHORSE STAFF: Baltas Accused of Multiple Banned Substance Infractions
Baltas filed a lawsuit Aug. 17 against the CHRB, seeking damages of more than $12 million for allegedly being denied his right to due process as provided under the United States and California Constitutions when CHRB executive director Scott Chaney called for the trainer's one year suspension.
PEREZ: Baltas Sues CHRB, Seeking More Than $12 Million
