This ruling at Running Aces Jun 4: “Fiftyshadesofcray was sent to the test barn for post-race testing and it was noted by the State Vet that numerous welts appeared on the right and left rear hindquarters. Driver Scott Cisco is hereby fined $500 and issued a 3-day driving suspension.”
Again, that’s “numerous welts” on both sides of this poor girl’s body. How then to explain the wrist tap? Apparently, “this is Cisco’s first offense of this nature in 2026 at Running Aces.” Yes, just this year, just at this track. What they ignored, however, is the fact that on May 12 at RA, Cisco “tested positive for alcohol” prior to his drives that day. It’s a bad joke, folks. A drinking, unequivocal animal abuser who will be back in action next Friday.
Staying at Running Aces, Jun 2: “Chevron Art N was sent to the test barn for post-race testing and it was noted by the State Vet that a welt appeared on the right rear.” Driver Josiah Miller was given the same “punishment” as Cisco – $500, three days.
And at Cumberland Jun 7, Louis Gasbarro was suspended 10 days for “excessive or indiscriminate use of the whip.” Gasbarro was busted in May for “striking his horse before the gate opened.”
Finally, this at Churchill Apr 29: “The Assistant Trainer license issued to Jonathan Cedillo is hereby suspended pending his appearance before the Board of Stewards for possession of an electrical device on association grounds.” A reminder: an “electrical device” – aka “buzzer,” “battery,” “machine” – is used to shock the horse to run faster.
This is horseracing.
Restrained and hit so hard as to leave welts. And out the horses go, sent again to suffer under this industry’s merciless demonic drivers. This is no sport, it is violence in the Colosseum.
IF ALL of the people in horseracing who did (and continue to do) heinous and unscrupulous things to horses were caught in the act, this list of unscrupulous human beings abusing horses and breaking the rules would be much longer.
Also, I can only wonder about the dealings between certain “trainers” and individual racing commissioners who own horses.
Corruption and conflicts of interest are rampant in groups of people who are not held truly accountable to an outside authority.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority is not a transparent “authority” either. It is not funny but it is a joke. It is so weird that any individuals can call themselves “the blue ribbon nominating committee” and NEVER disclose their own names. They only disclosed the names of the people who they nominated for the various other committees of HISA.
These slap on the wrist so-called punishments are so characteristic of a so-called sport that is allowed to police itself. What a horrible joke for the horses that are subject to daily routine mistreatment and exploitation!
As long as racing exists, it will continue to be a corrupt horrendously cruel business that attracts all the wrong people at every level.