After an appeal of a years-old regulatory decision, a settlement agreement has been reached involving owner/trainer Lee Rossi and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that will result in a shortened suspension and fine for him.
Originally issued a $10,000 fine and 365-day suspension after one of his horses tested positive for the Class A stimulant dextromethamphetamine, Rossi will now serve 20 days of a 45-day suspension and pay a $500 fine. Twenty-five days of the suspension are stayed on the condition that no Class A or Class B medication violations occur involving him in any racing jurisdiction within 365 days from the Dec. 1 date of the agreement,
Rossi's suspension runs Dec. 11-30, and entry of all horses owned or trained by him "is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards," the ruling stated.
Dextromethamphetamine, known as "meth," is an illegal stimulant that has contributed to wide-ranging human drug abuse problems. Drugs and medications used by people can increase the possibility of equine drug testing contamination.
The positive test and ruling have been long contested, with BloodHorse reporting in 2018 that Rossi had received a stay of the initial ruling that noted the drug's presence in a blood sample taken from Our Bernattete following the filly's fourth-place finish in the seventh race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 15, 2017.
Our Bernattete has been disqualified, and the $1,200 in earnings from the race are forfeited.
