SHINING LIGHT ON THE HORSE INDUSTRY
Harness racing trainer Santiago Porfilio has been issued a total of six rulings by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission thus far in 2022, the cumulative result of which is fines equaling $12,000 and a suspension that will last through March 16, 2024. The most egregious of his penalties stem from being caught dosing a horse on race day and continuing to race horses while under summary suspension.
According to the UStrottingnews.com's Fines and Suspensions Bulletin for the week of Aug. 5 through Aug. 11, Porfilio withdrew his appeals against all six rulings on Aug. 5. He will be required to pay all relevant fines by Aug. 15, 2022, and will wind up serving nearly two years worth of suspensions, through March 16, 2024.
On Jan. 27, 2022, the Porfilio-trained Vector finished first at the Meadows and later tested positive for Dexamethasone, a Class 4 drug at a level of 2772.5 picograms per milliliter. Vector was disqualified from that victory, and Porfilio was fined $1,000.
On Jan. 28, 2022, Porfilio's trainee Humboldt finished fifth at the Meadows and later tested positive for Dexamethasone, a Class 4 drug at a level of 1927.5 picograms per milliliter. Humboldt was disqualified, Porfilio was fined $1,500, and the trainer was suspended 15 days which were served from March 19, 2022, through and including April 2, 2022.
On Feb. 2, 2022, the Porfilio-trained Rollin Withholly A finished first at the Meadows and later tested positive for Dexamethasone, a Class 4 drug at a level of 588.3 picograms per milliliter. Rollin Withholly A was disqualified, and Porfilio was fined $2,500 and given a 30-day suspension which was served from April 3, 2022, through and including May 2, 2022.
On Feb. 17, 2022, commission investigators searched Porfilio's tack room at the Meadows. They found numerous bottles and tubs of drugs that did not have prescriptions. These drugs included, but are not limited to, Clenbuterol, Regu-Mate, SMZ tablets, along with a syringe capable of accepting a needle. During a hearing conducted on March 3, 2022 in the Judges' office at the Meadows, Porfilio admitted that all the items found during the search belong to him. Porfilio was fined $1,000 and issued a 45-day suspension, which was served from May 3, 2022, through and including June 16, 2022.
On March 10, 2022, commission investigators observed Porfilio administrating an unknown substance to the horse She'sonehotwriter, who was in to go in race 7 that day at the Meadows. The horse was scratched. The unknown substance and a 60cc dose syringe were seized by commission investigators and found to contain Benzoic acid, Bicarbonate, DL-Lactic Acid, Methansulfonic Acid, Palmitic Acid, and Saccharin. Porfilio was fined $5,000 and suspended a full 365 days, which began on June 17, 2022, and is scheduled to continue through and including June 16, 2023.
Though Porfilio was issued a summary suspension on March 11, 2022, beginning that day, he proceeded to race two horses at Miami Valley Raceway on March 13, 2022. For this violation of commisison rules, Porfilio was fined $1,000 and issued a second 365-day suspension. After dropping all his appeals, Porfilio's final suspension was reduced to 274 days, running from June 17, 2023, through and including March 16, 2024.
Harnessracingupdate.com indicates that Porfilio was born in Buenos Aires where his father and grandfather had made their name as top-level harness trainers. The family moved to the United States when Porfilio was 4 years old, and he eventually launched his own training career in 2019.
EquiSport Photos (Matt and Wendy Wooley)
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