The Maine State Harness Racing Commission met today to hold adjudicatory hearing on a number of positive tests that have accumulated over the past four months. The majority of the positive tests were for high TCO2 levels that have been haunting the racing community recently. All of the positive tests discussed today were for participants that have already signed consent agreements with the commission and none of the licensees met with the commission.

Louis Gasbarro, III, Gordon DuBois, Philip (Bo) Sowers, Jr., and Bernard Charlton all signed Consent Agreements with the Commission which gave each of them a $500 fine which was suspended except for $250, a 90 day suspension of their racing licenses, suspended except for 30 of those days, and a return of the purse earned.

Both Shawn Thayer and Shawn Nye received two positives for high TCO2 levels.  Both of them received the same fines and suspensions as above with the understanding that if they get another TCO2 positive within the next 36 months, it would be considered a third violation of rule 11.3 and the associated penalties that go with a third positive.

Tim Hudson also signed a consent agreement for a positive test received in 2009. That positive brought him a $750 fine and a 180 suspension which has been satisfied and he has returned to racing. The rest of the positives that were on the agenda for today were continued to the December Commission meeting for various reasons.

The commission also approved the 2011 sire stakes schedule  There were no changes to the schedule that was presented to them at their November meeting.