Saratoga horsemen plead guilty to cobra venom

Father and son William and Keith Barrack reportedly pleaded guilty on Wednesday on felony charges of interference with a domestic animal, admitting they attempted to fix a harness race at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway last October by injecting a horse with cobra venom.

In a story that appeared in The Saratogian, the Barracks will likely each be sentenced to five years probation and likely lose their racing licenses forever.

"This, as far as I know, is the first conviction in New York State in terms of interfering with a harness horse at a track," Saratoga County district attorney James A. Murphy III was quoted as saying. "The Barracks have been for many, many years involved in harness racing in New York state.

"The punishment is less important to us than the felony conviction. The felony will allow the Racing and Wagering Board to permanently revoke their licenses."

According to the report, the Barracks admitted treating their horse Disco Force A with the cobra venom. Disco Force A went off at 3-1 in the Oct. 26 race and finished second. The investigation began after a tip came into state police, which resulted in wiretaps being approved for the Barracks’ telephones.

Also charged with involvement in the case are Marc Mosher, Carl Forrester and Robert Moscone. They are accused for aiding the Barracks in obtaining the venom as well as Epogen (EPO), hiding it and getting advice on how to use it. Those charges are pending.

The Barracks had originally been charged with using Epogen, but that was not included in their guilty plea on Wednesday. The charges against Mosher, Forrester and Moscone include the use of EPO.

« Back