Two more horses at Arlington have tested positive for the Class 3 medication etodolac, the sixth and seventh such positive tests at this meet.
Upperline tested positive for the medication after winning the Arlington Oaks, the ninth race on July 3. She has been disqualified from that victory, and her trainer, Mike Stidham, given a 15-day suspension (spanning Sept. 6–Sept. 20) and fined $1,000.
Also disqualified from a victory because of an etodolac positive was Valise, who won the fourth race on July 10 at Arlington for trainer Ingrid Mason. Mason received the same penalty as Stidham.
Etodolac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is classified by the Association of Racing Commissioners International as having a low chance of enhancing performance. Illinois has a zero-tolerance policy for etodolac, so there is no threshold level at which it is permitted in a horse’s system on race day. In humans, etodolac is routinely prescribed in humans for management of pain, fever, and inflammation.
Both trainers said they were appealing the rulings with the Illinois Racing Board. They will be allowed to continue training until their appeals are heard.
Trainer Nick Canani already has received two penalties for six different etodolac positives at the Arlington meet. Canani, the second-leading trainer here, also has appealed the rulings against him, and continues to train pending a hearing on all the positive tests.
