Night Mystery tests high

The Meadowlands's leading trainer Noel Daley was arrested by the New Jersey State Police after a search conducted on Wednesday afternoon found prescription label drugs, in which Daley did not have prescriptions for, unidentified injectable substances, hypodermic syringes and needles.



The search was approved by the New Jersey Racing Commission as a result of an elevated TCO2 test on a horse from Daley's barn. According to New Jersey Racing Commission deputy director Mike Vukcevich, Daley has requested the horse, Night Mystery, be placed in a three-day quarantine and be retested to see if he has a naturally high TCO2 level.



Night Mystery had the elevated test following a win in the third race Friday, Feb. 25, at the Meadowlands. Night Mystery won that night from the 10 hole in 1:51 at odds of 16-1.



"(Daley) has not had a hearing on it yet so there has been no finding of a violation," Vukcevich told The Horseman. "Under New Jersey procedures he has the option of placing the horse in pre-race quarantine. The horse will be tested again to see if the horse tests naturally high…the horse will be going into that quarantine Tuesday (March 8). If he passes that, there will be no problem. If he doesn't pass that, (Daley) will have a hearing to determine if there was a violation."



Daley was the leading trainer at the Meadowlands in 2003 and last year he finished second by one victory behind Mark Harder for the title. He currently leads the Meadowlands trainers' standings with 35 victories.

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