Trainers Mark Hennig and Todd Pletcher, who recently were handed controversial suspensions by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Revenue for questionable equine drug positives, filed suit in federal court late Friday claiming their due-process rights are being violated.
Trainer David Donk, who also had a horse test positive, is a party to the suit. Donk hasn’t been suspended yet but expects to be served this week.
Named in the suit, which seeks a temporary restraining order and undetermined punitive damages, are Deborah Miller, director of the Fla. DPMR, who signed the suspensions; Michael Taggart, the hearing officer who presided over Hennig’s and Pletcher’s appeals; and Michael Hoblock, chairman of the N.Y. State Racing and Wagering Board.
The SRWB allowed both trainers to race here Friday and yesterday. But as of today the board will honor the Florida suspensions under the reciprocity rule between states.