Masochistic ruled ineligible for 2017 Breeders' Cup

Edited Press Release

Breeders' Cup Limited announced Tuesday that it has notified trainer Ron Ellis and the owners of Masochistic, Jay Em Ess Stable and Los Pollos Hermanos Racing, of action taken pursuant to its Prohibited Substance Rule and Convicted Trainer Rule. As a result of the issuance of a ruling by the Santa Anita Board of Stewards disqualifying Masochistic from a second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and redistributing the purse based upon a positive test finding for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, the following actions have been taken.

• As a first violation of the Prohibited Substance Rule in a Breeders' Cup World Championships race, the horse's trainer, Ron Ellis, and all horses directly or indirectly in his care will be ineligible to participate in the Breeders' Cup World Championships in 2017. Breeders' Cup rules prohibit the transfer of horses in Mr. Ellis's barn to any other person associated with Mr. Ellis for the purpose of competing in the Breeders' Cup.
• Under the Convicted Trainer Rule, Masochistic will be ineligible to compete in the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Breeders' Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel added that: "Today's actions affirm our determination to conduct the Breeders' Cup under the highest standards of integrity and in a fair competitive environment for all participants. Looking forward, we will be modifying our rules and protocols for out-of-competition testing to ensure that no horse testing positive for any anabolic steroid while in training or competition will be permitted to race in the Breeders' Cup. There is no place for the administration of steroids to horses in training and racing, and we will be working closely with regulatory authorities to give the full effect to that principle in the Breeders' Cup."