HISA Lifts Suspension of NY-Based Trainer Rodriguez

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Rudy Rodriguez have reached an agreement to lift the New York-based trainer's provisional suspension Jan. 14. According to a Jan. 13 statement released by HISA and the trainer, who had been accused of endangering horses, the agreement reflects Rodriguez's commitment to ensuring that all his Covered Horses are cared for, trained, and compete in a manner that reflects the highest standards of equine welfare and integrity. As a result of this process and working collaboratively with HISA, Rodriguez has reviewed his existing practices and has agreed to implement remedial measures designed to ensure horses in his care receive timely and adequate veterinary intervention and care. The statement concluded by noting that the lifting of Rodriguez's provisional suspension is conditioned upon his $10,000 donation to a thoroughbred aftercare organization and continued compliance with the conditions set forth in the agreement. That agreement ends a suspension of Rodriguez that began Dec. 16, 2025. While the agreement largely resolves the case, Rodriguez will need to comply with a number of conditions through Dec. 31 or face an immediate six-month suspension. That sanction would kick in with another violation of HISA's racetrack safety rules. Also, the trainer agrees to have an attending veterinarian conduct a comprehensive evaluation of any of the horses under his care placed on the vet's list for unsoundness, injury, or epistaxis. That attending veterinarian will then need to promptly report the evaluation to HISA and maintain written records of the evaluation pursuant to HISA rules. If that vet recommends or suggests diagnostics be a part of the evaluation, Rodriguez agrees to comply and ensure such diagnostics are performed in a timely manner. Should an owner refuse the cost of such an examination, Rodriguez must either assume the cost or report the refusal to HISA in a timely manner. Also through Dec. 31, 2026, Rodriguez agrees to provide Dr. Donald Baker complete, unrestricted, and unfettered access to his barn area and related training facilities. Baker will be allowed to enter and remain in the Rodriguez barn at any time, with reasonable notice but without interference, obstruction, or limitation by the trainer or any of his employees or agents. On Dec. 15, 2025, a hearing officer determined that HISA had demonstrated good cause to move forward with a provisional (immediate) suspension of Rodriguez while a final adjudication played out. A provisional suspension means a covered person, in this case, Rodriguez, cannot participate in racing while a case is decided. HISA is allowed to issue provisional suspensions when it can show the allegations involved present an imminent danger to the health and welfare of horses. After a hearing officer posted notice on that issue, HISA informed Rodriguez that he was suspended, effective at 5 p.m., Dec. 16. On Dec. 22, Rodriguez requested a hearing. The parties signed an agreement Jan. 12 resolving the case (pending the requirements in place through 2026). HISA took action after pointing to a number of cases in which it said Rodriguez's horses did not receive lameness evaluations after being placed on the veterinarians' list. Represented by Clark Brewster, a Thoroughbred owner and equine attorney, Rodriguez argued that the Authority's accusations amounted to omissions in record-keeping and did not constitute deprivation of necessary care. They also said that not all of the horses referenced had been placed on the vets' list. "Respondent's horses are routinely assessed by attending veterinarian Dr. Reyn Andrews by personal observation and interview with (Rodriguez) and his staff," they argued. They said such examination records are not required to be uploaded to the HISA portal because they do not concern "treatments, procedures, and surgeries." Going into this year, Rodriguez had finished in the top 100 in both earnings and wins for 15 years in a row. While Rodriguez primarily competes in claiming races, he has won grade 1 stakes with horses such as Bella Sofia, Lady Ivanka, Dads Caps, Condo Commando, and Belle Gallantey.