Four veterinarians who treated thoroughbred race horses at Penn National Racetrack in Grantville are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in “doping” horses to give them an edge in races, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania .
Dr. Kevin Brophy, 60, of Florida; Dr. Fernando Motta, 44, of Lancaster; Dr. Christopher Korte, 43, of Pueblo, Colorado; and Dr. Renee Nodine, 52, of Annville, are each accused of administering drugs to race horses within 24 hours of when the horse was entered to race. The alleged “doping” took place at various times beginning in 1986 and continued through August 2014.
The veterinarians are also accused of conspiring with horse trainers to administer the drugs.
According to the charges, the horse trainers allegedly placed orders for drugs and the veterinarians, after administering the drugs, backdated the billing records to avoid detection. The veterinarians allegedly submitted false veterinarian treatment reports to the State Horse Racing Commission, investigators said. Prosecutors allege the filing of these reports and the backdating of billing records was done to further the conspiracy by concealing the illegal activity.
These acts had the potential to defraud other owners and trainers whose horses were entered in the same race and defrauded the betting public as well, investigators said.
The veterinarians could face up to 2 years in prison, and a $200,000 fine.
