One veterinarian and three trainers based at Penn National have been suspended in light of an ongoing investigation.
According to a report from Ray Paulick of Paulick Report, the investigation began after security personnel saw veterinarian Allen Bonnell injecting a horse closer to a race than allowed by Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules. This triggered the beginning of an investigation, which led to the suspension of three trainers.
The summary suspension of Bonnell began Oct. 29. After a Tuesday hearing, the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission affirmed the summary suspension under a rule prohibiting conduct that is "inappropriate, illegal or unethical conduct which violates the Commission’s rules and regulations of racing, is inconsistent with the best interests and integrity of racing or otherwise undermines the general public’s faith, public perception and confidence in the racing industry."
Bonnell does not plan to contest the charge. "I got caught injecting a knee with hyaluronic acid and a little bit of flumethasone," Bonnell told Paulick Report on Thursday. He also noted that people saw him do the injection. According to that report, Bonnell, who has been a veterinarian for over four decades, called the injection time frames under HISA "detrimental to the horse" and referred to the injections as "taking care of the animal."
The three trainers suspended as part of this investigation are Kim Graci, Marlin Miller and Michael Zalalas. Graci was summarily suspended Oct. 25, and she waived a hearing Oct. 29, according to a ruling posted by the Pennyslvania Horse Racing Commission. Miller was suspended last Friday pending a hearing, and the suspension was upheld at a Tuesday hearing, according to a PHRC ruling. Zalalas was summarily suspended according to a PHRC ruling dated Wednesday, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST.
