Brian Pelling
Brian Pelling and Dennis Nardoni were suspended for five years ''through 1992'' Thursday by stewards at Maywood Park for allegedly manipulating the 10th-race trifecta at the harness track on Nov. 6.
Pelling was the driver, trainer and owns horses trained and driven by Pelling but didn`t have a contestant in the $5,000 conditioned pace for non-winners of $2,500 in their last six starts.
Thorn Eagle (10-to-1), Ultra Osborne (2-to-1 second choice) and Midnight Eagle (35-to-1), a 7-6-1 combination, paid $1,492.20 for a $3 bet on the trifecta. Midnight Eagle moved from fourth to third on the disqualification of Leah Christina, a 31-to-1 longshot demoted to sixth for interfering with several horses in the stretch.
ADVERTISEMENT
Fox Valley Bullet, the 9-to-5 favorite, finished eighth, a length behind Pelling`s horse, who stayed in front of him for about three quarters of a mile.
State stewards Tim Schmitz and Bob Milburn and association steward Bill Baier found Pelling guilty of violating seven Illinois racing rules-1, an unsatisfactory drive; 2, betting on starters; 3, fraudulent proposals; 4, acts injurious to racing; 5, conspiracy to violate rules; 6, association with undesirables; 7, solicitation of wagers.
Top Stories00:2401:12Woman stabbed at Chicago'sGrant Park skate park recovering
Nardoni was suspended for four offenses-1, fraudulent proposals; 2, acts injurious to racing; 3, conspiracy to violate rules; 4, failure to observe the new rules regarding approaching the security barn without authorization.
Witnesses told investigators Pelling and Nardoni held a conversation in the unauthorized area before the race
''I`d like to be more specific, but I just can`t right now,'' said Schmitz when asked to detail the circumstances of the race and the subsequent investigation that led to the suspensions. ''We can`t turn our cards over right now.''
Unsatisfactory driving means not attempting to win a race. The betting on starters rule pertains to wagering on contestants other than one`s own horse to win a race. Fraudulent proposals, acts injurious to racing and conspiracy to violate rules are offenses dealing with conspiring to fix a race and offering bribes to others involved.
here's your hero/great trainer
