Charges Filed Against Penn Vets
Four veterinarians practing at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania, have been charged in separate criminal informations with conduct in violation of the state criminal law prohibiting the rigging of publicly exhibited contests.
According to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, charges were filed late Thursday against Dr. Kevin Brophy, age 60, Florida; Dr. Fernando Motta, age 44, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Dr. Christopher Korte, 43, Pueblo, Colorado; and Dr. Renee Nodine, 52, of Annville, Pennsylvania.
The government has also announced that it has entered into plea agreements with each of the four vets in which they have agreed to plead guilty to the charges and cooperate with authorities as the investigation continues.
Each of the four defendants is charged with having allegedly administered drugs to Thoroughbred race horses within 24 hours of a race. According to the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the alleged activity took place at various times beginning as early as 1986 and as recently as August 2014.
The criminal informations also allege that the defendants conspired with trainers whose names are ‘known to the United States.’ According to the charges filed, trainers allegedly placed orders for drugs and the defendants not only administered the drugs, but subsequently back-dated the billing records to avoid being detected. Defendants also allegedly turned in false veterinarian treatment reports to the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, omitting any reference to the drugs that were administered. According to the charges, these acts ‘had the potential to defraud other owners and trainers whose horses were entered in the same race and defrauded the betting public as well.’
The maximum applicable penalty is two years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
In response to the allegations, Kent Carter, DVM, president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), issued a statement, stating:
“We are disappointed to learn of the allegations against four AAEP members involved in treating Thoroughbred racehorses at Penn National Race Track. We are not privy to the details of the allegations beyond what has been reported in the press. Ethical practice is a necessary requirement in all aspects of veterinary medicine. All veterinarians are expected to follow the American Veterinary Medical Association Code of Ethics, the ethics code of their state veterinary medical association, and all rules and regulations of horse racing that apply at the racetracks where practicing. The health and welfare of the horse can only be protected when veterinarians abide by the ethical code that we are bound to as part of veterinary medicine. It is paramount that AAEP members and all veterinarians practicing at the racetrack adhere to the highest ethical standards in order to protect the racehorse and the integrity of the sport.”
Added Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, “Today’s indictments are indicative of how racing commissions are teaming up with law enforcement and other government agencies to enforce laws designed to protect horses and the integrity of racing.”
The charges are the latest to rock the backstretch at Penn National. In November 2013, trainers David Wells, Sam Webb and Patricia Anne Rogers and clocker Danny Robertson were indicted on a variety of charges.