The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) stewards have suspended trainer Michael Pender 30 days for violations of animal welfare and trainer insurer rules.
Michael Pender, who had been ordered by Santa Anita management to vacate his stalls last month, was charged with “knowingly” working a horse at Santa Anita on March 24 after a veterinary examination revealed an injury, and then entering the horse to race at Golden Gate Fields on April 6. New Karma was a veterinary scratch from that race.
New Karma, a 7-year-old gelding with seven wins from 43 lifetime starts and $213,077 in earnings, was claimed by Pender Racing LLC and partners for $20,000 at Del Mar last Nov. 15.
The details of the May 14 hearing, in which private veterinarian Dr. Heather Wharton served as a witness on behalf of the CHRB, are in the Santa Anita stewards minutes.
