After Earning a Total of $18,152,321, Two-Time Grade 1 All-American Equestrian Champion Faces Abrupt Suspension

Rules and regulations for a game are set to keep the sport fair and competitive. Along similar lines, equestrian sports also have their rules and regulations with the governing bodies overlooking them. Now, as anti-doping is an issue that has grappled with the equestrian industry for quite a while, the governing authorities have defined a set of stringent penalties and punishments in order to rectify the prevailing situation.

There have been many rulings related to anti-doping recently with considerable suspension and fines handed over to the accused. Recently, a multimillion-dollar equestrian trainer got suspended by the New Mexico Racing Commission until his hearing over alleged anti-racing activity. The suspension, once again, brought to light the issue that emerges from time to time.

Equestrian trainer suspended by the racing commission

According to the Paulick Report, the famed quarter-horse equestrian trainer Juan M. Gonzalez has been suspended by the New Mexico Racing Commission on charges of conduct that they considered detrimental to racing.

It was reported that on an inspection of Gonzalez’s barn that was conducted on the 25th of August, 2023, a hypodermic needle and syringe were recovered from a pocket of a jacket that was hanging there.

The hearing on the suspension is set for the 2nd of September and till then, the trainer has been banned from the equestrian grounds that come under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Racing Commission.

The suspension came after many such cases that caused a stir in the community. The most popular of them was the case of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Baffert was suspended by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for post-race doping test failure in the 2021 Kentucky Derby case.

Worth $18,152,321 Juan M. Gonzalez is a well-known name in quarter-horse racing and has won the Grade 1 All-American Futurity two times in his career. The first time was in the year 2003, when ByBy JJ owned by Rosella Anrin Prieto won the race in 21.102. The second time was in the year 2013 when Handsome Jack Flash, owned by Norma and Brenda Alvarez, won the race in 21.166. But, for the famed trainer, this is not the first time he got such a suspension.

Equestrian trainer’s earlier suspensions

This is not the first time the famed trainer Juan M. Gonzalez got suspended from the race. Earlier in the year 2005, he was suspended for six months after an anabolic steroid known as Trenbolone was found in the inspection.

Similarly, he was also banned in 2014 for a period of six months after Clenbuterol was found in the inspection. The trainer has a glittering career apart from his suspension records.

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

He is counted among the top twenty-quarter horse trainers of all time. In his 4,412 career starts to date, he has won 625 races and this year in his 55 starts he won six races and added $134,558  to his total earning. The trainer had trained many winning horses like Streak of Sixes, Running Dragon, and many more.

The two-time Grade 1 All-American Futurity winner trainer suspension is worrying news. The equestrian world is startled by the announcement, and all eyes are on the September hearing.

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