Bloodhorse:
NY Court Again Declines Dutrow Hearing
By Tom Precious
New York\'s highest court has declined—for the second time in three months—to hear an appeal by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. in his legal bid to keep racing regulators from revoking his license to work in New York State.
With the Jan. 8 court ruling, state officials said Dutrow could lose his license to train in New York as early as within the next several days, depending on whether Dutrow\'s lawyers seek relief from federal courts.
John Sabini, chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering board, said today\'s ruling by the Court of Appeals exhausts Dutrow\'s legal options in the state court system. The case has gone through an administrative hearing at the racing board and three levels of civil courts in the state.
\"Upon service of the 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,\'\' Sabini said in a statement.
\"The court\'s actions confirm that cheaters who repeatedly violate the rules have no place in New York racing,\'\' Sabini said of the state\'s case against Dutrow that also included the trainer\'s many racing rule violations over the years.
The latest decision by the Court of Appeals to toss out Dutrow\'s case comes after the same court in October rejected an initial appeal by the colorful trainer, ruling his case had \"no substantial constitutional question\'\' involved.
A stay had allowed Dutrow to continue training despite the license revocation and $50,000 fine he was slapped with by the NYSRWB. The regulatory panel had ruled, before the court challenges, that Dutrow be banned from training in New York for at least the next 10 years.
Michael Koenig, Dutrow\'s lawyer, had previously said the latest appeal to the state\'s highest court would be the last attempt in state court. Koenig did not return an email or phone calls seeking comment this morning. It is uncertain whether Dutrow might have any legal avenues in federal courts to try to keep his license.
The court did not issue a written ruling explaining its decision not to hear the Dutrow appeal.
Dutrow, the trainer of 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown, appealed a July 19 decision by the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, which unanimously upheld the revocation, saying he had \"engaged in conduct that was improper and inconsistent with the public interest and the best interests of racing.\"
Originally, Dutrow was hit with a 90-day suspension after officials found the painkiller butorphanol in a urine sample from Fastus Cactus, who finished last in the third race Nov. 20, 2010, at Aqueduct Racetrack. There was a subsequent discovery of hypodermic needles in a Dutrow barn.
The NYSRWB later increased the penalty to a full revocation of his license, saying Dutrow is a \"person whose conduct at racetracks in New York State and elsewhere has been improper, obnoxious, unbecoming, and detrimental to the best interest of the sport
NYSRWB should play the game and offer to reduce the ban to 5 years if Tricky agrees to surrender license immediately..
...and 2 1/2 if he rolls on Super Vet.
Lol...Who does he have to give up for Witness Protection??
On a serious note does this mean NY Only? Can he still train in Jersey where he runs a lot and Florida where he is now? Tony gets stalls at Saratoga and these days there is a lot of shuttling horses back.and forth. Last summer he trained at Aqueduct the whole Spa Meet.