Scandal-ridden horse races in Nevada hit with revised rules

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday overhauled rules that strengthen regulatory oversight of rural county fair horse-racing meets that in 2024 were wracked with doping scandals.

The revised regulations also turn some decisions over to the Nevada Gaming Control Board chair and coordinates policies with those of the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Specifically, the new rules also require microchipping of horses to better identify participants, place limits on the use of whips and add new safety measures.

The amended Regulation 30, which takes effect June 1, addresses several concerns that were raised last year in the scandal-filled Elko County Fair horse races in August and September 2024 in which horses that were drugged with cocaine and illegal narcotics won races and prize purses.

The commission was brought into the disciplinary proceedings after former State Racing Steward Doug Ray requested it intervene in disciplinary decisions because he did not have the authority to impose more severe penalties than statutorily allowed.

Ray determined that in the second race of the Aug. 24, 2024, Elko County Fair Board races in Elko, a horse trained by Alvaro Torres, The Saime Pro, won the race and its $7,000 purse. The horse was submitted for drug testing, a routine procedure for the winner.

Cocaine found

Test results indicated levels of cocaine, as well as a major urinary metabolite of cocaine in the post-race urine sample. As a result, the winnings from the horse were redistributed to the next three finishers, and the state steward fined Torres $1,000 and suspended his Nevada horse racing license for 180 days, the maximum extent of the steward’s authority. At the time, the regulation allowed the steward to call on the gaming commission to review the matter and impose a greater penalty. Ultimately, the commission agreed to fine Torres $5,000 and ban him from racing for up to five years.

More doping incidents occurred Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 2024.

Four horses won their respective races with Famous Prizes winning the second race, Dr. B winning the fifth race and Bnb Hasta La Luna winning the seventh race on Aug. 31, 2024, and Bnb Lightning McQueen winning the third race on Sept. 2, 2024.

Post-race blood and urine tests determined the horses to be drugged with methamphetamine and amphetamine and two of the horses tested positive for Tramadol, an opioid pain medication.

$100,000 fine

After a November appeal of the commission’s June 2025 decision, commissioners agreed to fine trainer Ricardo Castillo Jr. $100,000 and had his license revoked for at least 15 years. In the appeal, Castillo, through his attorney, said he had no idea how the illegal substances ended up in the horses’ systems.

In a half-hour hearing Thursday, gaming commissioners voted unanimously to approve the amended Regulation 30 that not only clarified how regulators can address disciplinary matters on horse racing but expands on details that previously had been vague. Commissioners praised Senior Deputy Attorney General John Michela for his thorough review of the regulation and the amendments he drafted.

“As I was working my way through those cases (the Torres and Castillo matters), I noted many divergent disciplinary paths and issues,†Michela said. “The proposed changes create one clear disciplinary path and address the disciplinary issues I noted.â€

When commissioners first learned of the two cases, they were horrified and demanded a means to address animal cruelty. That led Michela to draft several regulatory changes. Among them:

-It adds 125 definitions of terms previously undefined in the previous version.

-Racing horses must be microchipped to prevent “ringers†from entering ta race. The revised regulation defines a ringer as a horse that is fraudulently substituted for another to attempt to win a race and/or deceive bettors.

-It places dozens of details and restrictions on how jockeys can use whips to control their horses. Among them: “The whip shall only be used for safety, correction and limited encouragement and be appropriate, proportionate and professional …â€

-It also requires all owners, trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, outriders, pony persons and the starting gate crew to properly wear safety vests and helmets when handling horses.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.