Minnesota Racing Commission’s Board of Stewards Suspends Popular Equestrian Trainer Worth $3,493,023 for Alleged Anti-Doping Violation

Anti-doping is a serious offense and there are strict rules and regulations related to it. There are practices and medicines that are prohibited under the law for the safety of equine and humans and also for the purpose of fair play. Every concerned person in the race from owner, trainer, and jockey is required to adhere to those guidelines, failing to which punishments are handed.

There have been numerous cases of suspension, fines, and punishments over the years that involve even the experienced and elite equestrians. Recently, a popular equestrian trainer at Canterbury Park was suspended by the equestrian racing board for actions violating the anti-doping code. This suspension again drew attention and raised concerns about the issue and became a topic of discussion.

Nevada Litfin suspended by the equestrian racing board

According to the Paulick Report, the famed equestrian trainer Nevada Litfin at Canterbury Park was suspended by the Minnesota Racing Commission’s board of stewards. The commission in its statement mentioned that the trainer was seen by security in an act that qualifies as “engaging in acts detrimental to the integrity of racing“. The equestrian racing commission cited the rules that were violated by Litfin and hence the suspension decision was carried on. They listed Subp.7, Subp 17 A, and Subp. 20 of the Prohibition Act. Subp. 7 is related to cooperation with security at the time. Subp. 17 A is related to hypodermic equipment of injection and Subp. 20 is related to substances prohibited during the race period.

The detrimental actions were not disclosed by the board nor the time and date of the hearing. The Minnesota Racing Commission also ruled that Litfin will be denied privileges related to all the grounds of all racetracks that come under the jurisdiction of the Commission. The horses trained by the worth $3,493,023 trainer before the suspension rule was deemed scratched by stewards. The trainer has given his statement on the suspension but is for sure a setback to him and raised question marks on his illustrious career.

Nevada Litfin equestrian career

When Nevada Litfin was nine years old, he first witnessed racing at Carlton County Fair in Barnum. The brief introduction sparked in him a love for the game. When reached the age of 15, he started working with Canterbury Park trainer Kevin Danger. After honing his training skills with the trainer he decided to embark on a solo journey and started training alone in the year 2000.

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He won his first race the same year, and the rest is history. He has won multiple stakes races and currently stands sixth by wins in the trainer’s chart at Canterbury. This year was the best in his entire career so far after winning 21 races from 139 starts this year and he has added $437,296 to date to his total career earnings this year.

The suspension of the famed equestrian trainer Nevada Litfin is a matter of concern for the equestrian community and industry. There should be more clarity about the nature of actions taken by the trainer and work towards preventing such events in the future.

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