Fair Hill trainer Quiroz charged by HIWU over positive

The American trainer at the centre of a growing controversy involving a series of heavily backed winners from Fair Hill has been charged with an alleged medication violation after a horse in his care tested positive for a banned substance, according to the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU).

HIWU disclosed that Maryland-based trainer Angel Quiroz faces a pending violation stemming from the detection of albuterol in a sample collected from Bonita Rough on July 10 at Fair Hill. The case has been posted on HIWU’s public database of pending violations.

In a statement, HIWU spokesperson Alexa Ravit said the charge was filed after the trainer was informed of the finding and declined further testing options.

“This charge letter was served after Quiroz was notified of the positive test, waived the opportunity to request B Sample analysis, and failed to provide a sufficient explanation for the positive test,” Ravit said.

Albuterol, a bronchodilator used to improve airflow, is classified as a banned substance in a horse sampled from the veterinarians’ list. A violation could carry a maximum penalty of a two-year suspension and a $25,000 fine under HISA rules.

The charge emerges days after unusual betting patterns surrounding several horses with connections to Fair Hill drew scrutiny from regulators and wagering operators.

Attention intensified after Quiroz-trained runners The Great Amira and Tepeyac won back-to-back races at Monmouth Park on Sunday, producing betting outcomes that prompted questions across domestic and international wagering markets.

HISA and HIWU have already announced enhanced testing measures in response to the situation.