Daileys point to Ledford

Seldon Ledford Stable assistant trainer Ryan Dailey and his wife, Ardena, have reportedly told the New Jersey Racing Commission that Ledford supplied the illegal blood-doping performance-enhancing medications that led to their arrests for drug possession and race fixing.



The Dailey's statements were revealed at a Commission hearing Tuesday to discuss whether Ledford, who has not been charged with any illegal wrongdoings after his barn at Showplace Farms was raided last Friday ultimately resulted in the arrests of the Daileys, veterinarian Dr. John Witmer, and Ledford's son, driver Eric Ledford, should also be charged.



Lead detective Sgt. Brice Cote testified that the Daileys told him that Seldon Ledford had given them the drugs, including the highly-potent Aranesp. Cote also stated that during a search of Witmer's home an invoice for Aranesp was discovered, with handwritten instructions to ship it to Ledford's farm in Crete, Ill.



The Racing Commission has indefinitely suspended all 50 horses trained at Showplace Farms by Ledford. Seldon and Eric Ledford have also been indefinitely suspended pending the outcome. The hearing took place before a three-member Board of Judges that will determine if the Ledfords and Daileys violated a host of administrative racing regulations. If found guilty, they could be fined, suspended, or have their racing licenses revoked. A second hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 6.

« Back