Dutrow wins stay in court
Controversial trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., banned for 10 years last week by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board effective today, was granted a 30-day stay of that penalty yesterday by New York State Supreme Court judge Richard Giardino at a hearing in Schenectady.
Dutrow, whom the SRWB labeled a person “detrimental to the best interests of racing” based on a long history of violations, will be allowed to continue to train his horses until he formally files his appeal. At that time, said his attorney, Michael Koenig, “We will seek a further stay pending the determination of that appeal.”
Koenig did not have a timeline on how long the appeals process in court might take, but said, “We’re going to move this along as quickly as possible. Rick and I want this to reach a conclusion so that he can continue on with his career. We have a lot of meritorious issues that should lead to a reversal of the State Racing and Wagering Board’s decision.”
Koenig, arguing that Dutrow’s right to due process has been violated, will base his appeal on what he calls a “conflict of interest” involving John Sabini, chairman of the SRWB, who said of Dutrow’s ban: “Let this be a lesson to other people in the business.”
Sabini is also secretary/chair-elect of the Racing Commissioners International, which last February sent a letter to the SRWB — signed by RCI president Ed Martin, former executive director of the SRWB — urging that Dutrow’s license be revoked.
The outspoken Dutrow, who trained Big Brown to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2008, raised a ruckus before that year’s Belmont Stakes when he revealed Big Brown was racing on steroids, which were allowed at the time.
