The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) has voted to recommend that a horse trainer face a $5,000 fine and have his license revoked for five years following a positive test for cocaine in a winning race last August.
Key Takeaways
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board has voted on a new punishment for a horse racing trainer whose horse tested positive for cocaine after a race
- The Nevada Gaming Control Board is recommending a $5,000 fine and a five-year training license suspension as punishment
- The trainer initially faced a punishment of $1,000 and a 180-day license suspension
The horse, The Saime Pro, was tested after the second race of the Elko County Fair in August 2024. When the urine sample came back positive for cocaine, the horse’s $7,000 purse was forfeited, and Nevada horse racing stewards gave the trainer, Alvaro Torres, a $1,000 fine. Torres also saw his license suspended by 180 days. That’s the maximum penalty the horse racing steward can apply.
“I don’t know how Mr. Torres obtained cocaine, but you’re not supposed to be in possession of cocaine, so that could be actually a matter to be turned over to the law enforcement authorities in the jurisdiction of how he obtained and administered cocaine to this poor animal,” said NGCB Chair Kirk Hendrick.
According to Nevada Deputy Attorney General John Michela, who presented the case for horse racing stewards pushing for more severe punishments, it was the first instance of stewards pushing for further penalties in 30 years.
Torres declined to attend the NGGB meeting. The Nevada Gaming Commission will vote on the NGCB’s recommendation on April 24.
“This is outrageous! Drugging a horse with cocaine, he could have killed the horse. That’s just unacceptable. I have no tolerance for people who abuse animals like that,” commented NGCB board member George Assad during the meeting.
Nevada gambling under the microscope
Horse racing is not the only form of gambling in Nevada that is under scrutiny.
Nevada has previously sent cease-and-desist letters to event contract platforms such as Kalshi. However, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada granted Kalshi a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against Nevada regulators investigating the company.
Meanwhile, lawmakers approved SB 256 to ban sweepstakes casinos, deeming this gambling illegal and encouraging players to use Nevada online casinos instead.
Sweepstakes casinos differ from Nevada online casinos as these platforms do not require real money deposits, but let you redeem prizes and cash if you earn enough virtual currency.
