Trainer Amoss fined, horse DQ'd for Acepromazine use

Trainer Tom Amoss was fined $1,000 and a horse in his care was disqualified from a December victory after a positive test for promazine, a metabolite of acepromazine.

According to a ruling posted on the Association of Race Commissioners International website, the substance was identified with Zoom Up, a 3-year-old filly who had won the eighth race at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19.

Amoss was notified of the report and declined his right to have the split portion of this sample tested and waived his right to a formal stewards hearing, according to the ruling.

Acepromazine is a rapid-acting tranquilizer used to help control fractious horses, according to the Equimed website. It also is used with local anesthesia for surgical procedures and sometimes is prescribed for laminitis because it lowers blood pressure, thereby improving circulation in the hoof.

The stewards concluded that the amount detected was above the permitted level and was an ARCI Category III drug violation.

Zoom Up was declared unplaced and the purse was ordered to be redistributed.

The Upstart filly, owned by Cosmic Racing LLC, broke her maiden in the race, which was her third start. She won her next start, an allowance race at Fair Grounds, on Jan. 18.