Perfect record in jeopardy due to trainer questions

The Delaware Harness Racing Commission has disqualified the undefeated Tug River Princess from her win last month in the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final at Dover Downs and fined and suspended trainer Trevor Warwick six months in a ruling that stated he “was not the actual trainer of Tug River Princess…and fraudulently listed himself as the trainer of the horse for this race.”

A winner of all five of her starts last year, the 3-year-old filly pacer Tug River Princess has crossed the wire first in all seven attempts in 2008, running her record to a perfect 12-for-12. The ruling places that record in jeopardy as the Delaware Commission decided that Tug River Princess should be disqualified and unplaced from her 8 ½-length, 1:51.2 victory, with the $50,000 winner’s share now going to runner-up Dover Dolly and all the other starters moved up one spot.

Tug River Princess had been trained by Delaware-based Craig McInnis throughout her freshman year and her first two starts of 2008, but then she was sent to New Jersey-based conditioner Ross Croghan on the eve of her win in the $62,500 Tender Loving Care final Feb. 29 at the Meadowlands. She returned to Dover Downs March 26 for the Breeders Fund eliminations, and Delaware-based Warwick was listed as trainer.

Following that victory Tug River Princess went back to the Meadowlands where Croghan was again listed as trainer for her next start in the Blossom Series, which preceded her return to Dover for the $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final, which again had Warwick listed as trainer.

According to the ruling: “Mr. Warwick listed himself as the trainer of the horse Tug River Princess for the 8^th race on April 10, 2008 at Dover Downs. Mr. Warwick did not have Tug River Princess in his care, custody or control for almost two weeks prior to the race on April 10, 2008 at Dover Downs and admitted that he did not know the exact location of Tug River Princess the week of the race. The judges rule that Mr. Warwick was not the actual trainer of Tug River Princess for the April 10, 2008 race at Dover Downs and fraudulently listed himself as the trainer of the horse for this race.”

Warwick has appealed the ruling, which also included a fine of $7,500. Purse money for the race had been paid except for the winner’s share that had not yet gone to owners Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and Jerry Silva.

« Back