Medication violation: Parx trainer Lee gets 1-year suspension

Haleem Lee, who has been based at Parx Racing since September 2020, was suspended for one year and fined $10,000 by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission after one of his horses tested positive for a drug that is used by humans for erectile dysfunction.

The ruling that was made last week was reported first by BloodHorse.

Satchel de Ritches, a 6-year-old gelding who Lee claimed Jan. 16 for $10,000, tested positive for tadalafil after winning an allowance race April 11 at Parx. According to the National Library of Medicine, the drug may be used in animals to treat their lungs for high blood pressure.

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Lee and his attorney Alan Pincus asked for a second split sample to be tested, and it also came back positive, according to a case report posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Because the race came more than a month before the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority got the go-ahead to apply its new rules, it was left to Pennsylvania authorities to punish Lee.

“This ruling shall in no way affect the pari-mutuel payoff in the third race on April 11,” the case report said. “During the suspension, (Lee) is denied the privileges of all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. All horses owned or trained by (Lee) are suspended pending transfer approved by the stewards.”

Lee’s suspension is scheduled to take effect Tuesday, although he has the right to appeal.

Since he moved from Jamaica nearly three years ago, Lee has put together a training record of 329: 55-57-56 with earnings of $1,425,716, according to Equibase. As the owner of Lee Stables his record is 263: 52-46-47 with purse money of $1,201,692.

Lee could not be reached for comment Saturday.