Because of findings of the presence of a controlled medication substance or its metabolites, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has disqualified a pair of runners who earned placings at Tampa Bay Downs in late March for veteran trainer Gerald Bennett.
HIWU announced that Chrome Ghost has been disqualified from his runner-up finish in the Sprint Stakes March 29 at Tampa Bay, the second straight year the Shaman Ghost gelding had reached the wire second in that race; and multiple stakes winner Naughty Rascal has been disqualified from a third-place finish in an allowance optional claiming race March 27 at Tampa Bay. Naughty Rascal, a 4-year-old son of Rogueish , boasts stakes wins in the 2024 Proud Man and Armed Forces stakes at Gulfstream Park as well as last year's Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay.
As part of the HIWU sanctions announced for the cases resolved June 15, Bennett will be suspended for a week beginning June 16. HIWU noted that the cases were resolved with an "admission of an (equine controlled medication) rule violation and acceptance of consequences" by Bennett. Controlled medications are allowed to be administered in the racing environment, but their use is regulated.
HIWU issued the sanctions after findings of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in both horses as well as diphenhydramine in Chrome Ghost. Acetaminophen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (sold as Tylenol for humans); while diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, common in over-the-counter drugs for humans such as Vicks Formula 44.
Under the decision, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Unit rolled the two violations into one finding. Bennett is fined $1,000 and assigned two penalty points.
The disqualifications include the forfeiture of all purse money. With the disqualification of Chrome Ghost from the Sprint Stakes, Flood Zone becomes the runner-up in that 6-furlong sprint on the dirt for older horses, while Classic of Course will move into third, giving that Florida-bred son of Awesome of Course a pair of stakes-placings this season.
From 2013-2022, Bennett ranked in the top 100 by North American training wins every season but one. Based on a search of records, this is the first time he has been suspended by HIWU, the enforcement arm of HISA.
