Trainer who won ‘08 Kentucky Derby agrees to 30-day suspension in deal with racing commission

Trainer who won ‘08 Ky. Derby agrees to suspension

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The trainer of the 2008 Kentucky Derby winner will serve a 30-day suspension after reaching a settlement with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Rick Dutrow’s horse, Salute the Count, tested positive for a breathing stimulant in May 2008 after another race at Churchill Downs. He was first suspended in July but appealed, leading to Tuesday’s settlement.

The suspension runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 as part of the settlement. Dutrow will not have to pay the commission’s legal fees.

Dutrow won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown. Big Brown never violated a drug rule, but Dutrow was widely criticized when he acknowledged the horse had the then-legal steroid stanozolol in his bloodstream during his 2008 Derby and Preakness victories. Kentucky and most other states have since banned stanozolol and other anabolic steroids.