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Trainer Bobby Martinez Hit With $480,000 Fine
Texas-based trainer Bobby Martinez was fined $480,000 and suspended until 2054.

© TRACK Magazine / Mark Herron
Trainer Bobby Martinez Hit With $480,000 Fine

By BEN HUDSON, TRACK Magazine Owner/Editor

ALBUQUERQUE , NM—APRIL 3, 2020—Texas-based trainer Bobby Martinez was fined $480,000 and suspended until 2054 by the New Mexico Racing Commission in rulings issued March 31, 2020 and posted on the website of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) website on April 2.

The rulings are the results of eight positive tests for the prohibited medication Ostarine in horses trained by Martinez.

Ostarine, is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modular (SARM) that reportedly will help humans look muscular and will preserve muscle mass and reduce body fat.

According to the website for NFSMI, Ostarine is not approved by the FDA and like other SARM products is illegal.

All eight of the horses that received the positive tests were owned by Jose Fabian Hernandez of Jarrell, Texas, who has been a very active buyer at yearling sales in recent years. All eight of the horses with the positive tests were purchased as yearlings in 2018 at the Texas Quarter Horse, LQHBA or Ruidoso sales for prices between $7,000 and $200,000.

Jose Fabian Hernandez owned all eight horses with the positive tests. © TRACK Magazine / Mark Herron
All eight were started by Martinez in the Rainbow Futurity trials.

Attached are the eight rulings that were published on the ARCI website. As each of the rulings state: “The drug “Ostarine” is a drug that is not approved by the FDA and any supplements containing “Ostarine” are illegal in the USA.

Aggravating factor: “Ostarine” has a high potential for abuse in the sport of horseracing to gain an unfair advantage. Aggravating factor: Second 1-A drug violation in 2019 Aggravating factor: “Ostarine” has no therapeutic use in racehorses, and is generally administered to improve performance and affect the outcome of a race.

Aggravating factor: per 15.2.6.9 (A)(4) NMAC: Any drug or metabolite thereof found to be presenting a pre- or post-race sample which is not classified in the Association of Racing Commissioners International uniform classification guidelines for foreign substances shall be assumed to be an association of racing commissioners' international class 1 drug and the trainer and owner shall be subject to those penalties as set forth in penalty category A unless satisfactorily demonstrated otherwise by the racing medication and testing consortium, with a penalty category assigned. Note: Neither witnesses nor evidence were presented to disprove the findings of the New Mexico Racing Commission.”

Following are the eight horses that received the positive tests:

  • FM DYNASTY ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Mr Jess Perry—Kates Dynasty, by FDD Dynasty) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner Positive post race test after winning Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-5-19. Qualified for Juvenile, but not allowed to enter.
  • FM EASE ROCK, 2017 c.
    (Captain Courage—All About Ease, by First Down Dash) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    Positive post-race test after winning Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-6-19.
    Qualified for Juvenile, but not allowed to enter.

  • FM LION ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Tempting Dash—Fee Lion, by Panther Mountain) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    2nd in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-5-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-14-19. Qualified for Juvenile, but not allowed to enter.

  • FM BUSHWACKER, 2017 g.
    (First Down Dash—A Blast Of Fast, by Chicks Beduino) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    3rd in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-6-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-15-19.

  • FM COWBOYS ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Heza Fast Dash—Six Streakin Salute, by Streakin La Jolla) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    3rd in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-5-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-15-19.

  • FM PARTY ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Corona Cartel—Party Girl Affair, by Streakin La Jolla) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    5th in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-5-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-15-19.

  • FM LOKO ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Seperate Interest—First Down Energy, by First Down Dash) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    3rd in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-6-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-15-19.

  • FM TEMPTING ROCK, 2017 g.
    (Tempting Dash—Take The Cash Willie, by Takin On The Cash) Jose Fabian Hernandez, owner
    5th in Rainbow F. trial at Ruidoso on 7-6-19.
    Positive Out of Competition Test at Ruidoso on 7-15-19.

“It is satisfying to know that even in these uncertain times, we can be assured that reckless and wanton cheating by people like Martinez, Navarro and others continues to be aggressively attacked by regulators and law enforcement”, Jeff True, President and General Manager of Ruidoso Downs, told TRACK Magazine Friday morning.

“We are outraged that such an egregious effort to cheat was attempted at Ruidoso and stand with the New Mexico Racing Commission and the entire racing industry in support of severe penalties for the worst offenders.”

Courtesy TRACK Magazine's Monday Report