O'Neill Begins Serving Suspension

Trainer Doug O’Neill has decided not to appeal an Illinois suspension that is being enforced in California and effective June 30 he will have no horses race in his name for 15 days.

O’Neill’s attorney Steve Schwartz, said based on the cost of an appeal and the unlikelihood that the suspension would be overturned he advised O’Neil to sit out the 15 days. "It would have been difficult to achieve an ultimate outcome" favorable to his client, Schwartz said, adding that the issues of law and equity "are within the broad discretion of the stewards."