Vet Camilo Sierra has been suspended by New York stewards. (Photo credit: bigstock.com)
The stewards in New York have suspended veterinarian Camilo Sierra for submitting health certificates for three horses he never examined per David Grening of The Daily Racing Form.
The three horses according to Grening were unraced juveniles New York Bourbon and Too Much Malibu and the 0 for 12 maiden Sky Ace, who is trained by Dominic Giglio, Jr. and owned by Alex Kazdan.
Sky Ace last ran on Dec. 14, checking in sixth against $25,000 maiden claimers, sent off at odds of 66-1.
Grening reported that the three horses were trying to enter the grounds back on Oct. 31 and Sierra submitted health certificates for the trio of horses despite not having examined them.
The stewards have suspended Sierra 30 days and fined him $1,500 and reduced the suspension to 20 days for the vet having waived his right to appeal the punishment.
According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, the NYSGC database shows Sierra has been penalized by state racing authorities on seven other occasions since 1993 for violating various procedural, record-keeping, and medication-related rules.
Here are his sanctions according to the database:
06/07/2013: Fined $250.00 for violation of New York State Gaming Commission rule 4043.2. (Report of Corticosteroid Joint Injection).
05/07/2011: Fined $250.00 for failure to tend to business in proper manner. (Failure to secure medication).
04/26/2007: Fined $500.00 for incomplete record of treatment.
01/12/2006: Fined $500: Failure to follow proper licensing requirements.
08/14/2004: Fined $250: Violation of NYSR&WB rule 4012.4(A).
10/02/2001: Fined $50: Failure to follow proper licensing requirements.
02/04/1993: Administered Flunixin (Banamine).
The three horses apparently were examined by another vet, so perhaps this is no big deal. However, as a horseplayer it rankles me that whenever something like this comes up, the punishment does not seem to fit.
If the horse racing industry has any inclination to stay viable, it has to enforce the rules and come down on those that are not following the rules, be it veterinarians, trainers or jockeys.
Horseplayers have no confidence that everyone is playing by the rules, and it only angers us when somebody is finally caught, and gets a light slap on the wrist.
Listen babe, if the powers that be don’t start Dutrowing some of these cheats, many of us horseplayers are suddenly going to get much better at golf.
Check out our Holiday Specials! Get an entire month of Gulfstream Park reports for just $79.95! NOW $59.95 this week only! Michael’s Gulfstream Park Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire card! Michael has been handicapping the Florida circuit on a daily basis for nearly three decades.
