ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Authorities in New Mexico have suspended two well-known horse trainers following the discovery of a prohibited substance in several racehorses. This occurred during one of the most prestigious quarter-horse races globally—the All American Futurity, which is often likened to the Kentucky Derby for thoroughbreds.
Regulators from the New Mexico Racing Commission called the situation unprecedented, noting that so many leading finishers testing positive on a significant race day is highly unusual. Due to the complexities surrounding the testing process, more than $5 million in prize money tied to the All American Futurity and other races scheduled that September remained on hold for an extended period.
A press conference on Wednesday revealed the suspensions, while formal notifications were issued the following day. Ismael “Izzy” Trejo, the executive director of the commission, emphasized the integrity of the racing industry, stating, “These poor innocent horses are being administered these illicit drugs to try to get an unfair advantage in our big races. And it was this commission’s duty and job to try to discover that.”
The investigation was initiated after veterinarians and fans noted irregular behavior in Hezgothelook Z, the horse that not only won the All American Futurity but also clinched the Triple Crown. Subsequent lab tests confirmed the presence of carmoterol, a drug able to improve breathing and increase muscle mass, in Hezgothelook Z and eleven other horses that participated in significant races, including the $3 million All American Futurity and the $1 million All American Derby.
This incident marks the first detection of carmoterol in samples from horses competing in New Mexico, though it has been found in other states like California and Texas as well. The violations were traced back to trainers Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor, and the suspensions they face will prevent them from participating in races across North America until further action is taken.
Keeton is currently already suspended in Texas due to previous positive tests for carmoterol in horses he trained at Lone Star Park last September. Expressing concern for the broader repercussions this incident could have on the racing industry, New Mexico Racing Commission Chairman Billy Smith acknowledged that the problems extend beyond just the trainers. “A lot of people are getting hurt over this. It changes pedigrees. There are so many things it changes,” Smith stated. “We’re going to lose some owners, we’re going to lose some trainers and participants. So it’s definitely going to hurt. It is going to take time for this to heal over.”
The New Mexico horse racing industry has faced challenges before; it was significantly impacted by doping allegations that came to light following a New York Times investigation in 2012. In response to those findings, more rigorous testing protocols and regulations were introduced, which the commission now promotes as a strong approach to rooting out cheaters. The measures include random drug tests done during and out of competition, and penalties can be severe, leading to lengthy suspensions for multiple offenses.
Commission officials noted that the rate of illicit drug use in racing appears to have diminished in recent years, dropping from 3.5% of samples resulting in violations in 2017 to just over half a percent last year. Trejo remarked on the ongoing challenges in establishing regulations around new performance-enhancing drugs, stating, “There’s thousands and thousands and thousands of drugs in this world. And trying to find that needle in the haystack is very difficult.”
