HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A prominent central Pennsylvania thoroughbred trainer was indicted Wednesday on charges she conspired with veterinarians to give horses banned substances before races.
Murray Rojas, 49, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy.
Rojas collected $52,360 in winnings from 11 races in which the banned substances were allegedly used, federal prosecutors said. The races were held in early 2013 at Grantville’s Penn National Race Course, where Rojas is based.
That year she posted an 11.7 winning percentage that year and had 45.4 percent of her horses finish in the top 3, according to Equibase.
Backdated invoices and fraudulent veterinarian treatment reports were used to cover up the alleged doping, Prosecutors said.
Rojas did not immediately return a telephone message.
An association representing Penn National horse trainers said they’re subject to one of the most rigorous drug testing systems in the world, through the University of Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania Equine Toxicology and Research Lab, and pass 99.5 percent of all test.
The Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association said it has been a pioneer in implementing third-party administration of race day treatments and banning private veterinarians from treatment stalls, now a national standard.
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