JC / Railbird - Biancone Barn Searched

Biancone Barn Searched

Blood-Horse broke the story this afternoon that trainer Patrick Biancone’s Keeneland barn has been searched by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, which has opened an investigation:

John Veitch, chief steward for the KHRA, would not comment June 26 on the nature of the investigation or whether the search yielded anything illegal or that violates state racing regulations. Veitch said the search was conducted by KHRA personnel June 22, but also would not say what led to the search.

No comment from Biancone, currently the seventh-leading trainer at Churchill Downs with 11 wins from 50 starters this spring.
The Thoroughbred Times offers this bit of background on Biancone:

Biancone, 55, began training in the United States in 2000 after he was suspended for ten months in Hong Kong for drug positives in two horses. The Hong Kong Jockey Club also fined him in 1997 after a banned substance was found in more than 20 of his horses.

The Times also notes that the California Horse Racing Board filed a complaint against the trainer after his runner Iron Butterfly tested positive for Salmeterol following a second-place finish at Santa Anita on Janauary 7. An asthma medication, Salmeterol is used to treat recurring airway obstruction in horses and is listed as a Class III drug.
Update: Daily Racing Form reports that KHRA searched three of Biancone’s barns and his veterinarian’s truck on Friday.

Posted by JC in Trainers/Training on 06/26/2007 @ 9:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter