Jamie Ness, who will finish 2025 as the season's leading trainer by wins, will begin a seven-day suspension Dec. 31 for a controlled medication violation.
According to a Dec. 30 post by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit, the enforcement arm for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Ness-trained Uncle Irish tested positive for mepivacaine after finishing second in a Sept. 13 claiming race at Laurel Park.
The site lists the case as "resolved" with Ness admitting a controlled medication rule violation and acceptance of consequences. Mepivacaine is a local anesthetic and HISA classifies it as S7 B.
Besides the seven-day suspension, Ness is fined $1,000 and received two penalty points. Uncle Irish will be disqualified from his runner-up finish and owners Morris E. Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc. will forfeit the $4,140 purse.
Through Dec. 29, Ness leads all conditioners with 352 wins in 2025 from 1,406 starts. He's more than 20 victories ahead of his closest competitor. Ness, who has finished in the top three by wins each season since 2021, this year ranks 12th in earnings with more than $10.9 million collected by his runners.
