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Former Kentucky Derby favorite Forte, who scratched just hours before Saturday’s race at Churchill Downs, appears to have failed a drug test in September.
While this was not the reason for his scratching, it was not adjudicated before the regulators in New York, .
According to the report, Forte failed a drug test due to a substance used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The test came shortly after the horse won the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Springs in New York in September. Forte continued to be competitive and won his next four races on the Kentucky Derby.
The horse was the favorite to win at Churchill Downs, but it was not .
People at Camp Forte tried to delay the proceedings again on Tuesday, according to the report. New York racing officials are scheduled to hear from Forte’s trainer, Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, on Wednesday.
“This matter was likely to be decided months ago, but due to repeated procedural delays requested by the coach’s attorney,” a spokesperson for the New York State Gaming Commission told The New York Times.
The horse is owned by Mike Ripoll and Vincent Viola. Those two people, along with Bletcher, did not respond to New York Times requests for comment.
This report is just the latest incident surrounding this year’s iconic race in Louisville. There were seven horse deaths before the race, including two on Saturday. Parents Pride and Chasing Artie also died a few days before the race, though investigators aren’t sure why. and other horses who came in contact with his horse of all races were scratched as a precaution.
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