Nevada Upholds Harshest Penalties in Horse Doping Case Involving Four Horses

Nevada Gaming Commission Supports Severe Punishment for Trainer Ricardo Castillo Jr.

The Nevada Gaming Commission has affirmed a stringent penalty against horse trainer Ricardo Castillo Jr., ending his attempt to lessen a ruling that bars him from the sport for over a decade.

State Officials Maintain $100,000 Fine and 15-Year License Ban

All commission members voted unanimously to uphold a $100,000 fine along with a 15-year prohibition on holding a racing license. These sanctions were initially imposed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board after four of Castillo’s horses tested positive for illegal substances.

The doping issue arose during quarter-horse races held over the 2024 Labor Day weekend at the Elko County Fairgrounds. Blood and urine tests on four horses—Famous Prizes, Dr. B, Bnb Hasta La Luna, and Bnb Lightning McQueen—detected methamphetamine, amphetamine, and in two cases, the pain reliever Tramadol. All four horses won their events, earning a combined $17,700 before test results were confirmed.

Race officials first issued the strictest penalties allowed: a $1,000 fine and one-year license suspension per violation. After Castillo contested this, the Control Board escalated the matter, referring it to the Gaming Commission for a final decision, resulting in a hearing in Las Vegas where both Castillo and his attorney, Jennifer Gaynor, appeared.

Commission Denies Leniency, Highlighting Safety and Integrity Concerns

Attorney Jennifer Gaynor argued that the penalties were excessively harsh compared to previous Nevada racing drug cases, noting that fines typically range from hundreds to a few thousand dollars with bans lasting weeks or months instead of years. She emphasized Castillo’s clean disciplinary record, the good health of the horses, and the financial hardship the fine posed for the rural trainer. She also pointed out there was no evidence of suspicious betting activity related to the races.

Despite these appeals, commissioners stood firm. Board member Abbi Silver referenced the rejection of Castillo’s claim that contamination was accidental, stating multiple horses tested positive across different race days. Other panel members stressed that the safety risks posed by drug-enhanced horses and preserving betting integrity outweighed controversies over Castillo’s finances or previous record. Commission Chair Jennifer Togliatti remarked that the consequences could have been tragic, highlighting that the ruling aims to deter future incidents.

Castillo addressed the panel briefly, expressing his lifelong passion for training and stating he never intended harm. However, with the Commission’s final ruling, he now faces a prolonged absence from racing along with a hefty monetary penalty he admitted will be difficult to satisfy.