Jason Servis, trainer of Maximum Security, charged in federal indictment
Jason Servis, trainer of top race horse Maximum Security, is one of 27 people charged in an alleged doping scheme, both NBC News and the New York Times reported Monday.
Federal prosecutors in New York allege the defendants ran horses in Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Ohio and the United Arab Emirates.
Servis trains Maximum Security, who finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for interference. Country House was declared the winner of the race. Maximum Security has won four consecutive races, including the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, the Grade 1 Cigar Mile and most recently the Saudi Cup on Feb. 29.
According to the New York Times, the federal indictment alleges that Servis administer performance-enhancing drugs “to virtually all the racehorses under his control.”
That includes Maximum Security. According to the indictment, Servis allegedly gave PEDs to Maximum Security, including a shot of a PED named SFG-1000. On an intercepted phone call, Servis was assured there was not a test for that PED.
Ray Paulick of the Paulick Report tweeted on Monday morning that sources informed him that federal agents raided barns at both the Palm Meadows Training Center and Calder Race Course in Florida.
A federal press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. to discuss the charges.
Court papers of the indictment
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association released a statement from president Alex Waldrop on Monday about the charges:
“The charges documented in today’s federal indictment against 27 individuals in horse racing are abhorrent. There is no place in our sport for individuals who treat horses with disregard for their well-being or who undermine the integrity of our competition for personal gain. We support the effort to bring these charges to light and are hopeful that their swift adjudication will help assure other horse racing participants and the public at large that our sport will not condone or tolerate the behavior alleged in the indictments.”
The Thoroughbred Safety Coalition released a statement:
“There is no place in our sport for the activities described in the indictments filed by the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office. Safety and integrity will always come first for the members of the Coalition, which is why restricting medication and improving testing is one of the main pillars in our reform platform.
“The administration of illegal substances to racehorses cannot be tolerated by the Thoroughbred racing community. While we will not speculate and appreciate that everyone is entitled to a fair trial, we vigorously support a strong and unambiguous punishment for any wrongdoing. Additionally, we must continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure that racing fans and participants can trust in the integrity of our competition. Our equine athletes and fans deserve better.”
PETA has also released a statement from Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo:
“This sweeping federal investigation has exposed that illegal doping is still ubiquitous in horse racing, including at the highest levels. These crimes cheat bettors of billions of dollars and are egregiously cruel to horses, resulting in rampant injuries, pain, and deaths, such as those cited in the indictment. PETA is calling for a permanent ban from racing of all guilty trainers and veterinarians as well as any other conspirators and for criminal charges of cruelty to animals to be added forthwith.”
Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form reports that all horses trained by Servis and trainer Jorge Navarro entered on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Gulfstream Park will be scratched. Navarro was also named in Monday’s indictment.
Some more reaction:
This story was originally published March 9, 2020 at 10:48 AM.
