Kentucky stewards suspend Shug McGaughey for 30 days

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission suspended trainer Shug McGaughey for 30 days, half of which is stayed, after discovery of a tranquilizer metabolite in one of his horses, according to a ruling issued on Sunday.

The suspension, reported earlier by Thoroughbred Daily News, concerns a sample taken from Smokin T, a McGaughey trainee, after he finished second in the black-type Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 4.

McGaughey, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, also was fined $500. The suspension will be served from Dec. 5 through Dec 19, according to the ruling.

The ruling said the substance discovered, at a higher-than-allowed level, was 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) promazine sulfoxide. That's a metabolite of acepromazine, a tranquilizer.

Smokin T was disqualified and the $37,900 in purse money was ordered to be forfeited, according to the ruling.

McGaughey waived his right to a formal hearing, according to the ruling.

McGaughey has a record of 369: 63-65-64 this year and earnings of $6,619,429.