Opinion ID: 1697798
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Racing Commission Sanctions and Revocation of License

Text: The record contains multiple rulings against Roseberry affecting his occupational licenses issued by the Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas racing commissions. Racetracks regulate themselves through the use of the licenses and stewards, who oversee activities at the racetracks. The stewards have the ability to investigate, conduct hearings, and issue sanctions. The record contains an exhibit of the following violations, which we set out with minor revisions: (1) medical report violation; (2) Lasix administered to wrong horse; (3) unlabeled bottle; (4) medical report; (5) conduct detrimental to racing; (6) fighting; (7) failure to submit log; (8) medicated entry in error necessitating late scratch; (9) conduct detrimental to the best interest of racing  altercation in barn area; (10) failure to turn in medication report in timely manner; (11) administered Lasix to a horse that was not a Lasix horse; (12) medication in vehicle improperly labeled; and (13) conduct detrimental to best interest of racing  failed to remove tampon from nostril of horse before a race. The final violation led to a $1,000 fine. It also resulted in a 5-year suspension of Roseberry's Kansas license, which was lifted on appeal. According to Roseberry, fines and other sanctions are common at racetracks and happen to everybody every day. He stated that in many cases, he was fined for things he voluntarily disclosed and gave the example of providing Lasix to a horse that had been taken off the Lasix list when asked by the trainer to give the drug. Roseberry stated that although he reported the action, he was still fined. He said that often, items are listed as conduct detrimental to the best interest of racing but that no explanation is given. In other cases, he testified that there were no clear rules and provided the example of being cited for unlabeled medicine when no rule prohibited it. He also testified that he did not appeal most of the sanctions because sanctions are normally small and are accepted as the cost of doing business. At the hearing, he addressed the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission suspension. He stated that he had used a tampon to treat a cut in a horse's nose when he could not use medication and stitches because the horse was racing in a few days. He then reported it to the state veterinarian. According to Roseberry, the tampon should have fallen out before race day and if not, when the horse went to race, a paddock judge would see it as part of a tattoo check of the horse's lip. He also stated that the state veterinarian would come by the day of the race and should notice it. According to Roseberry, the tampon was not in the horse's nose after the race. He was asked if he removed the tampon or had observed another do it, and he said no. At the hearing, he stated that he appealed the $1,000 fine and 5-year license suspension and that on review, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission determined that he did not act unethically or deceptively and that the commission dropped the suspension when he agreed to pay the fine. The ruling on that appeal, however, is not in the record.