Calhoun suspended after horse's positive test for cannabidiol

In a ruling posted Tuesday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission suspended trainer Bret Calhoun for 30 days and fined him $500 stemming from a positive test for cannabidiol in a winning filly last July at Ellis Park.

Calhoun will serve 10 days of the suspension through April 23. Citing "mitigating circumstances," the term's remaining 20 days are stayed on the condition that no Class A or Class B medication violation occur in the next year. The use of cannabidiol, often referred to as CBD, is a Class B medication violation.

Calhoun waived his right to a hearing before stewards, according to the ruling. He also declined comment when contacted Tuesday by Horse Racing Nation.

As a 3-year-old filly, Touch Blue broke her maiden July 6, 2019, in a 5 1/2-furlong claiming race over Ellis Park's turf. She has been disqualified, and owner Chester Thomas, who runs horses under the Allied Racing banner, will forfeit purse money from the victory.

Calhoun and Thomas campaign a number of top horses together, including multiple graded stakes winners By My Standards and Mr. Money, along with Mr. Big News, who upset last Saturday's Oaklawn Stakes to earn his spot on the Kentucky Derby trail.

The Association of Racing Commissioners International categorizes cannabidiol -- derived from hemp, and increasingly popular for human use with advertised health benefits -- as a Class 2 substance.

Those are "drugs that have a high potential to affect performance," according to ARCI, "but less of a potential than drugs in Class 1. These drugs are 1) not generally accepted as therapeutic agents in racing horses, or 2) they are therapeutic agents that have a high potential for abuse.

"Drugs in this class include: psychotropic drugs, certain nervous system and cardiovascular system stimulants, depressants, and neuromuscular blocking agents. Injectable local anesthetics are included in this class because of their high potential for abuse as nerve blocking agents."