Latest news with #MaximumSecurity
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Racing trainer that won €30m faces deportation after prison stint for doping
American-based horse trainer Jorge Navarro, known as 'Juice Man,' has been released from prison. The 50-year-old was granted early release from a federal prison in Florida after serving three years and three months of a five-year sentence for admitting to doping horses. Navarro was a key figure in a widespread 2020 doping scandal that saw more than 20 individuals charged, including Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis, who also received a prison sentence. These charges stemmed from a 2020 FBI investigation into the extensive use of performance-enhancing drugs involving a group of trainers, vets and drug distributors at racecourses across the USA and in the UAE. "I was the organiser for a criminal activity that involved five or more participants. I coordinated the administration of non-FDA approved drugs that were misbranded or adulterated to horses under my care," he told the court in 2021. "I abused a position of trust as I was a licensed horse trainer and the horses were in my custody at the time." The Department of Justice stated that Navarro, who trained over 1,200 winners with earnings close to €30million, "operated his doping scheme covertly, importing misbranded 'clenbuterol' that he both used and distributed to others, avoiding explicit discussion of PEDs during telephone calls, and working with others to coordinate the administration of PEDs at times that racing officials would not detect such cheating." One of the horses he doped was X Y Jet, winner of the valuable 2019 Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Among his preferred PEDs were various 'blood-building' drugs, which, when administered before intense physical exertion, can lead to cardiac issues or death. X Y Jet died of an apparent heart attack in 2020, reports the Mirror. Navarro won seven straight trainers' titles at Monmouth Park through 2019, but agreed to pay just under €23m in restitution four years ago, reflecting winnings tied to doping. At the time, New York district attorney Audrey Strauss described Navarro as: "A reckless fraudster whose veneer of success relied on the systematic abuse of the animals under his control." He earned the nickname 'Juice Man' following a viral video where he celebrated a winning horse trained by his brother, with a mate exclaiming "Juice Man!" and quipping: "That's the juice." Navarro was released from federal prison in Miami on Wednesday but now faces the threat of deportation, as the Panama native doesn't have US citizenship. Speaking after his release, Navarro's lawyer, Jason Kreiss, said: "Because of the fact he is not a US citizen, he is ineligible for the programs that others can take advantage of. Deportation is certainly a concern with this administration. "That's what we don't know. What is ICE is going to do with him at this point? With this administration these types of situations are very unpredictable. "In the past he would have most likely been released and if there was an immigration detainer, he'd be able to post a bond on the immigration detainer. With this administration and their denial of due process for non-US citizens we just don't know what's going to happen."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Top racing trainer released from prison facing possible deportation from US
The one-time leading trainer secured early release from a five-year sentence having been a pivotal figure in a huge doping scandal in racing One-time leading trainer Jorge Navarro, known as the 'Juice Man', has been released from prison. The 50-year-old secured early release from federal prison in Florida having served three years and three months of a five year jail sentence after admitting doping horses. Navarro was a pivotal figure in a widespread doping scandal in which more than 20 people were charged including Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis, who was also jailed. The charges arose from a 2020 FBI investigation into the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs involving a group of trainers, vets and drug distributors at tracks across the USA as well as in the UAE. The Department of Justice said Navarro, who trained more than 1,200 winners with earnings of nearly £26 million, 'operated his doping scheme covertly, importing misbranded 'clenbuterol' that he both used and distributed to others, avoiding explicit discussion of PEDs during telephone calls, and working with others to coordinate the administration of PEDs at times that racing officials would not detect such cheating.' One of the horses he doped was XY Jet, winner of the 2019 Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Among his preferred PEDs were various 'blood building' drugs, which, when administered before intense physical exertion, can lead to cardiac issues or death. XY Jet died of an apparent heart attack in 2020. At the time New York district attorney Audrey Strauss described Navarro as 'a reckless fraudster whose veneer of success relied on the systematic abuse of the animals under his control'. Navarro left federal prison in Miami on Wednesday but could now face deportation as the native of Panama does not hold US citizenship. He became widely known as 'Juice Man' after a viral video emerged of him celebrating a winner, trained by Navarro's brother, with a friend who shouted "Juice Man", adding "That's the juice".
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
No Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in Preakness highlights some philosophical horse racing changes
Just a few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was ruled out of running in the Preakness Stakes. It is the second time in four years the owner and trainer of the Derby champion opted to skip the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes in June. Rich Strike also bypassed the Preakness in 2022 after winning at Churchill Downs at odds of 80-1. Country House did not run in 2019 because of illness after getting elevated to Derby winner when Maximum Security was disqualified for interference, the races were run out of order in 2020 and Medina Spirit ran and finished third in the 2021 Preakness after being DQed from his first-place finish in the Derby for a positive drug test. That means this is the fifth time in seven years that the Preakness gates open at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore without even a chance at a Triple Crown. That was only the case once in the previous 33 years from to 1986-2018, and that happened because a horse was retired because of injury after taking the Run for the Roses. Why is this happening? Horse racing has changed from its heyday, when stars of the sport like War Admiral, Secretariat and Seattle Slew were used to running every couple of weeks. Breeding, money and other factors have changed that, and the top 3-year-old horses eligible for the Triple Crown race far less often, with bigger stretches in between. 'Most trainers hate running their horses back in two weeks,' NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said. 'They feel like it's bad for the horses.' Beginning in the early 21st century, many of the Derby horses who finish between second and 20th started getting more rest to wait five weeks for the Belmont. It was essentially automatic that the Derby winner would go, though not anymore. 'The trainers of Derby winners that do run back in the Preakness do it out of a sense of tradition — not because they like it,' Moss said. Sovereignty's Bill Mott made that clear the morning after his horse passed Journalism down the stretch in the mud at Churchill Downs with a record audience watching , casting doubt on the Preakness. 'We want to do what's best for the horse,' Mott told reporters in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. 'Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that's not something we're not going to think about.' Does something need to change? The debate has been raging for decades about horses not being able to handle the grind of three premier races over a span of five weeks. That was primarily because no one swept the Triple Crown between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015 , a 37-year drought that made industry stakeholders question tradition versus modern-day changes. Justify doing it in 2018 to give the sport a pair of Triple Crown champions in four years quieted that talk. The recent uncertainty about Derby winners going to the Preakness reignited the chatter. Prominent owner Mike Repole shared a proposal on social media Tuesday that would move the Belmont up to second in the rotation and shift the Preakness back to provide more spacing. Others have suggested moving the Preakness back to the first Saturday in June and the Belmont to the first Saturday in July. What is the solution? No one really knows. And does there need to be seismic change like the pitch clock in baseball? Maybe, maybe not. After all, the previous two Derby winners — Mystik Dan last year and Mage in 2023 — wheeled back after two weeks to finish in the money at the Preakness. They didn't win, but their trainers wanted to give it a shot. And Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah and Justify completing the Triple Crown showed it was possible. 'We'll see Triple Crown winners because there will occasionally be horses like American Pharoah and like Justify who are good enough to blow up any of the current thoughts about spacing,' Moss said. And trainers who aren't worried about it. Baffert and 89-year-old fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas have shown a willingness to go for it after winning the Derby — and even when they don't. Lukas intends to run American Promise in the Preakness after a 16th place finish in Kentucky. Others have chosen to play it more safe, which, if that becomes the trend, puts the future of the Preakness in peril. ___ AP horse racing:
Fox Sports
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
No Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in Preakness highlights some philosophical horse racing changes
Associated Press Just a few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was ruled out of running in the Preakness Stakes. It is the second time in four years the owner and trainer of the Derby champion opted to skip the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes in June. Rich Strike also bypassed the Preakness in 2022 after winning at Churchill Downs at odds of 80-1. Country House did not run in 2019 because of illness after getting elevated to Derby winner when Maximum Security was disqualified for interference, the races were run out of order in 2020 and Medina Spirit ran and finished third in the 2021 Preakness after being DQed from his first-place finish in the Derby for a positive drug test. That means this is the fifth time in seven years that the Preakness gates open at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore without even a chance at a Triple Crown. That was only the case once in the previous 33 years from to 1986-2018, and that happened because a horse was retired because of injury after taking the Run for the Roses. Why is this happening? Horse racing has changed from its heyday, when stars of the sport like War Admiral, Secretariat and Seattle Slew were used to running every couple of weeks. Breeding, money and other factors have changed that, and the top 3-year-old horses eligible for the Triple Crown race far less often, with bigger stretches in between. 'Most trainers hate running their horses back in two weeks,' NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said. 'They feel like it's bad for the horses.' Beginning in the early 21st century, many of the Derby horses who finish between second and 20th started getting more rest to wait five weeks for the Belmont. It was essentially automatic that the Derby winner would go, though not anymore. 'The trainers of Derby winners that do run back in the Preakness do it out of a sense of tradition — not because they like it,' Moss said. Sovereignty's Bill Mott made that clear the morning after his horse passed Journalism down the stretch in the mud at Churchill Downs with a record audience watching, casting doubt on the Preakness. 'We want to do what's best for the horse,' Mott told reporters in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. 'Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that's not something we're not going to think about.' Does something need to change? The debate has been raging for decades about horses not being able to handle the grind of three premier races over a span of five weeks. That was primarily because no one swept the Triple Crown between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015, a 37-year drought that made industry stakeholders question tradition versus modern-day changes. Justify doing it in 2018 to give the sport a pair of Triple Crown champions in four years quieted that talk. The recent uncertainty about Derby winners going to the Preakness reignited the chatter. Prominent owner Mike Repole shared a proposal on social media Tuesday that would move the Belmont up to second in the rotation and shift the Preakness back to provide more spacing. Others have suggested moving the Preakness back to the first Saturday in June and the Belmont to the first Saturday in July. What is the solution? No one really knows. And does there need to be seismic change like the pitch clock in baseball? Maybe, maybe not. After all, the previous two Derby winners — Mystik Dan last year and Mage in 2023 — wheeled back after two weeks to finish in the money at the Preakness. They didn't win, but their trainers wanted to give it a shot. And Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah and Justify completing the Triple Crown showed it was possible. 'We'll see Triple Crown winners because there will occasionally be horses like American Pharoah and like Justify who are good enough to blow up any of the current thoughts about spacing,' Moss said. And trainers who aren't worried about it. Baffert and 89-year-old fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas have shown a willingness to go for it after winning the Derby — and even when they don't. Lukas intends to run American Promise in the Preakness after a 16th place finish in Kentucky. Others have chosen to play it more safe, which, if that becomes the trend, puts the future of the Preakness in peril. ___ AP horse racing: recommended in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
07-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
No Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in Preakness highlights some philosophical horse racing changes
Just a few days after winning the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was ruled out of running in the Preakness Stakes. It is the second time in four years the owner and trainer of the Derby champion opted to skip the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes in June. Rich Strike also bypassed the Preakness in 2022 after winning at Churchill Downs at odds of 80-1. Country House did not run in 2019 because of illness after getting elevated to Derby winner when Maximum Security was disqualified for interference, the races were run out of order in 2020 and Medina Spirit ran and finished third in the 2021 Preakness after being DQed from his first-place finish in the Derby for a positive drug test. That means this is the fifth time in seven years that the Preakness gates open at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore without even a chance at a Triple Crown. That was only the case once in the previous 33 years from to 1986-2018, and that happened because a horse was retired because of injury after taking the Run for the Roses. Why is this happening? Horse racing has changed from its heyday, when stars of the sport like War Admiral, Secretariat and Seattle Slew were used to running every couple of weeks. Breeding, money and other factors have changed that, and the top 3-year-old horses eligible for the Triple Crown race far less often, with bigger stretches in between. 'Most trainers hate running their horses back in two weeks,' NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said. 'They feel like it's bad for the horses.' Beginning in the early 21st century, many of the Derby horses who finish between second and 20th started getting more rest to wait five weeks for the Belmont. It was essentially automatic that the Derby winner would go, though not anymore. 'The trainers of Derby winners that do run back in the Preakness do it out of a sense of tradition — not because they like it,' Moss said. Sovereignty's Bill Mott made that clear the morning after his horse passed Journalism down the stretch in the mud at Churchill Downs with a record audience watching, casting doubt on the Preakness. 'We want to do what's best for the horse,' Mott told reporters in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sunday. 'Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that's not something we're not going to think about.' Does something need to change? The debate has been raging for decades about horses not being able to handle the grind of three premier races over a span of five weeks. That was primarily because no one swept the Triple Crown between Affirmed in 1978 and American Pharoah in 2015, a 37-year drought that made industry stakeholders question tradition versus modern-day changes. Justify doing it in 2018 to give the sport a pair of Triple Crown champions in four years quieted that talk. The recent uncertainty about Derby winners going to the Preakness reignited the chatter. Prominent owner Mike Repole shared a proposal on social media Tuesday that would move the Belmont up to second in the rotation and shift the Preakness back to provide more spacing. Others have suggested moving the Preakness back to the first Saturday in June and the Belmont to the first Saturday in July. What is the solution? No one really knows. And does there need to be seismic change like the pitch clock in baseball? Maybe, maybe not. After all, the previous two Derby winners — Mystik Dan last year and Mage in 2023 — wheeled back after two weeks to finish in the money at the Preakness. They didn't win, but their trainers wanted to give it a shot. And Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah and Justify completing the Triple Crown showed it was possible. 'We'll see Triple Crown winners because there will occasionally be horses like American Pharoah and like Justify who are good enough to blow up any of the current thoughts about spacing,' Moss said. And trainers who aren't worried about it. Baffert and 89-year-old fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas have shown a willingness to go for it after winning the Derby — and even when they don't. Lukas intends to run American Promise in the Preakness after a 16th place finish in Kentucky. ___
