Appeals court denies appeal by Dutrow

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Albany, NY (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. has once again been denied an appeal of his 10-year ban. The Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court, refused to hear Dutrow's appeal which could lead to his suspension from horse racing.

"Today, the New York State Court of Appeals released its decision denying Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.'s final request for leave to appeal, thus exhausting his legal options in state court," said John D. Sabini, New York State Racing and Wagering Board chairman, in a statement. "Upon service of the order on Mr. Dutrow, the penalties issued against him by the Board - a 10-year ban from racing in New York and $50,000 in fines - are expected to take effect. The court's action confirms that cheaters who repeatedly violate the rules have no place in New York racing."

Dutrow was given the ban in 2011 by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. The board had ruled that Dutrow's training license be revoked and he cannot reapply for 10 years. He was also banned from all New York racetracks for 10 years.

Dutrow, who saddled Big Brown to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was cited for having various rules violations in many jurisdictions and suspended or fined almost every year since 2000 for medication violations.

The New York investigation goes back to November 20, 2010 when a Dutrow horse had a tainted urine sample. The painkiller butorphanol showed up in a sample and a 90-day suspension followed.