Ill. to investigate Ledford

Trainer Seldon Ledford has also reportedly been suspended from racing horses in Illinois by the Illinois Racing Board, pending its own investigation into the recent allegations of using illegal performance-enhancing drugs and race fixing in New Jersey and whether the same occured in Illinois.



The New Jersey Racing Commission had already suspended Ledford, his son, driver Eric Ledford, and stable assistant Ryan Dailey, as well as the 50 horses trained by the Ledfords after the raid on their barn at Showplace Farms last Friday. Seldon Ledford was reportedly the listed trainer for about 40 horses that were racing in Illinois at Maywood and Balmoral Park.



The allegations included that the Ledfords were using Aranesp--a highly-potent form of EPO--on their horses. One published report Thursday stated that the deaths of two horses that were trained by the Ledfords were being investigated.



Harnessracing.com had previously learned that the New Jersey State Police discovered the trotter Malomar Man dead in his stall during the raid, and was told by lead detective Sgt. Brice Cote that he was told that the horse had been treated for salmonella. In a story published in the Asbury Park Press, Cote said that Malomar Man "had all the symptoms of EPO, including loose bowels and diarrhea."

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