SHINING LIGHT ON THE HORSE INDUSTRY

Stetson Mitchell, who had been on track to collect his fourth consecutive meet title at Arapahoe Park, was summarily suspended by Colorado officials on Oct. 4, the final day of the 2022 race meet.

Personnel from the Colorado Department of Racing arrived at Mitchell's barn at Arapahoe Park on the morning of closing day but Mitchell said they refused to tell him whether he had any pending drug positives.

Investigators found multiple syringes, some with needles attached, and bottles of injectable medication in a vehicle belonging to Mitchell and in the rafters of his barn and a hay shed. Mitchell said those items were covered in dust.

The Department of Racing could not provide comment on the search, since it is connected to an ongoing investigation. A spokeswoman did confirm that since Colorado stewards have disbanded for the season, a hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer with the Colorado Department of Revenue's Hearings Division.

Mitchell said he is not using the vehicle in which the medications were found and had lent the truck to an employee of his, who admitted the drugs were for the treatment of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in a pony.

He also said he firmly believes the needles and syringes were planted in his barn, and that the person responsible for them tipped the state about where to look.

“It's been a very odd meet where I've had a lot of things planted in my barn that I've reported to the commission and they pick the last day of the meet to come down here; it's very strange,” he said. “I actually turned in a needle and syringe that was found in my shedrow to the commission and asked them to test it. That was more than a month ago and it's still out. They say they have no answers for it.

“I think the person who dropped the syringe planted the other stuff and accidentally dropped that at the time.”

This season hasn't been an easy one for Mitchell, who earlier this summer was part of the first void claim case by the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority after Pow Pow tested positive for albuterol. Mitchell said he's still appealing that case.

He also told the Paulick Report he believes his horses have been targeted for post-race drug testing more frequently than usual. Normally, he said post-race testing is done on the winner and a random horse. He said his horses have been pulled for random tests more frequently than usual, even when they finish last.

“I honestly believe it is the Colorado commission's goal to kill racing,” he said. “This lady [Director of Racing Events Donia Amick] has made it known she hates horse racing.”

Mitchell has been the leading trainer at Arapahoe by wins since the 2019 season, and starts considerably more horses than most other horsemen there. This year, he had 223 starts, while the next most prolific trainer had 146. His win rate is 16 percent. He was poised to take the Arapahoe training title with 35 victories ahead of O.A. Martinez Jr.'s 31, but the track chose not to hold a ceremony awarding the title on closing day, telling him they wanted to wait until final drug tests had come back. His entries for the day were stewards' scratches.

Mitchell said he plans to turn his horses out at the conclusion of the meet as he awaits the outcome of the case.

EquiSport Photos (Matt and Wendy Wooley)

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