In a ruling posted March 3, New York stewards fined owner-trainer Charlton Baker $1,000 and suspended him 10 days from March 5-14 after one of his trainees, Daufuskie Island, showed the presence of flunixin in his post-race sample in an Oct. 7 race at Aqueduct Racetrack. The ruling noted Baker waived his right to an appeal.
Flunixin, commonly referred to by his brand name Banamine, is a commonly used therapeutic medication in racehorses. Classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, it treats pain and ailments such as colic.
NSAIDS in the post-race samples of horses have led to similar fines and suspensions issued by Aqueduct stewards this year toward trainers Linda Rice, Kieron Magee, and Michelle Giangiulio.
Baker, 57, a trainer since 1998, has won 1,783 races from 8,309 starts from his horses. He races in the northeast, running primarily at New York Racing Association tracks and Finger Lakes.
Monte Gelrod and James Gerard Johnston's Daufuskie Island, who crossed the wire first in the race, has been disqualified and demoted to last. A $35,000 claim submitted for Daufuskie Island was voided, according to the Equibase chart.
The Goldencents gelding led from start to finish in the third race Oct. 7, winning by five lengths under Trevor McCarthy as the second favorite. He paid $4.20 to win. Daufuskie Island has twice gone unplaced in two subsequent allowance starts.
