Six Preciado Horses Disqualified From Parx Victories After Testing Positive For Clenbuterol


Ray Paulick

Six horses trained by Ramon Preciado have been disqualified from victories at Parx Racing in March and April after each of them tested positive for the bronchodilator clenbuterol.

Preciado, the Bensalem, Pa., racetrack's leading trainer in 2014 and 2015, already was facing 270 days in suspensions for positive tests for clenbuterol in October and November 2015.

On April 15, he was handed a three-year ejection from the grounds of Parx April 15 as an “undesirable person” whose “pattern of conduct is not in the best interest of racing” and the track refused to take entries from his stable. Preciado appealed the ejection and received a stay of the order three days later. On April 26, Preciado sued both Walter Remmert, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, and Sam Elliott, the Parx Racing racing secretary, saying his due process rights were violated. In his complaint Preciado said he “will prove at the hearings that a disgruntled employee has sabotaged his horses by giving the drug without his knowledge.”

Trainer Ramon Preciado
Trainer Ramon Preciado

Six separate stewards rulings were issued between May 17-22 for the latest clenbuterol positives, disqualifying the horses from the victories and their purse money. The rulings state: “The stewards, investigators of the PSHRC (Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission), and the TRPB (Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau) are continuing their investigation into this matter.”

The horses disqualified from their winnings because of positive tests for clenbuterol are: Barbara Hopkins' Poderosa, 7 1/2-length winner of the ninth race March 1; Gumpster Stable's Christinas Charm, one-length winner of the seventh race March 20; Barbara Hopkins' Avaritia, 2 1/2-length winner of the third race March 28; Barbara Hopkins' Broad Lover, three-quarter-length winner of the fifth race on April 11; Hernandez Racing Club's Atizapan, three-length winner of the third race on April 11; and Silver Trail Stable's No Returns, 2 1/4-length winner of the eighth race on April 12.