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An interesting story has surfaced in the horse racing world, and it has caught the attention of PETA.
A racehorse tested positive for meth after winning a race at the MGM Northfield Park in Ohio last fall. The horse, Gardy’s Legacy, submitted to a blood test after the race and tested positive for D-methamphetamine.
The positive test was a Class 1 Category A offense, according to TMZ Sports.
The horse’s trainer, Samuel Schillaci, was suspended for one year by the Ohio State Racing Commission and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
PETA caught wind of the story and “light punishment” for Schillaci, which led to a statement being issued requesting the trainer be permanently banned from the sport.
“This small administrative fine and suspension aren’t commensurate with such a serious violation,” PETA’s Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said in her statement. “Administering meth endangers a horse’s life, and trainers who treat a horse so callously will do the same to others, too. The commission should consider not only the safety of Gardy’s Legacy A but also that of all the other horses in Schillaci’s barn.https://twitter.com/fox8news/status/1752270630043488707
“Those who demonstrate such cruelty even one time show a clear disregard for the regulations and shouldn’t be granted the privilege of competing in your state ever again. By permanently barring Schillaci from competing in Ohio, you would create a safer environment for all participants.”
Despite their best efforts to spark outrage, PETA’s demands fell short.The Ohio State Racing Commission responded to the statement by telling FOX 8 in Cleveland, “the judges gave the maximum penalty allowed by law.”Sorry, PETA.
