Trainer O’Neill Facing Suspensions after Drug Violation

The Thoroughbred trainer faces suspensions in California and New York after one of his horses tested positive for a drug containing and/or capable of metabolizing into oxazepam, a sedative.
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Embattled Thoroughbred trainer Doug O'Neill has been handed an additional 45-day suspension in California for violating terms of an earlier agreement with the state's racing board.

The suspension is effective immediately and runs through Nov. 22. Coupled with a 45-day ban levied earlier in New York for a Class 2 drug violation, the latest action means O'Neill will be unable to train again until Dec. 19, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) said in an Oct. 9 release.

California-based O'Neill is best known for winning the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with I'll Have Another and the success of multiple Grade I winner Lava Man.

The CHRB and O'Neill entered into a stipulated agreement, under which the trainer is suspended for 135 days—90 days of which are stayed—and placed on probation for 18 months for violation of a board decision May 24, 2012. The action followed a week-long investigation by the CHRB into whether O'Neill had violated terms of his earlier agreement following the imposition of the suspension in New York

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Written by:

Jack Shinar is a frequent contributor to The Blood-Horse magazine and is part of their Digital Media department.

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