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Probe finds no fraud at MVRC
Fines, suspensions and a firing resulted
from Nov. 4 incident
By steve wilaj
austintown
No fraudulent activity was found in the investigation of a Nov. 4 race incident at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
However, a board of stewards issued four fines and three suspensions to those involved: trainer Shane Spiess was suspended 30 days and fined $500; exercise rider/trainer Michael Micallef was suspended 30 days and fined $500; and substitute trainer Francisco C. Avina was fined $200.
Horse identifier Thomas M. Clark — who was suspended for 60 days and fined $500 — was released from his duties at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
“The commission came in and we cooperated with them,” Penn National Spokesman Bob Tenenbaum said. “As we always do, we cooperated with the commission and we’re just glad to have this situation behind us.”
The ninth race at Austintown’s Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course (655 N. Canfield-Niles Road) on Nov. 4 had been under investigation by the Ohio State Racing Commission and racino operator Penn National Gaming.
The investigation began after a horse that was entered into the race was found by a state veterinarian not to be the actual horse that had raced and won.
The winning horse’s markings, sex and lip tattoo were different from the horse entered into the race.
“First of all, this is very unusual for anything like this to happen,” Tenenbaum said. “So it’s just a question of making sure that your people are doing their jobs.”
Vindicator reporter Kalea Hall contributed to this story.