Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
Respondent: AUBREY A. MARAGH
Judges: DARREN A. SCHWARTZ
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Jun. 10, 2020
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.
Latest Update: Jan. 10, 2025
FILED
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
AGENCY CLERK
CLERK Ronda L. Bryan
Date 12/20/2018
STATE OF FLORIDA File #
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING,
Petitioner,
DBPR Case No. 2018-059906
vs.
AUBREY A. MARAGH,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel
Wagering (“Petitioner” or “Division”), files this Administrative Complaint against Aubrey A.
Maragh (“‘Respondent”) and alleges as follows:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating pari-mutuel wagering pursuant
to chapter 550, Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material hereto, Respondent held a Pari-Mutuel Wagering Individual
Occupational license, number 2013878-1021, issued by the Division.
3. Atall times material hereto, Respondent was the trainer of record of the racing horse
“DANCING DONUT” with tattoo number “S24905.”
4. On October 28, 2018, “DANCING DONUT” participated in the fourth race of the
afternoon performances at Calder Race Course, Inc. performed by Gulfstream Park (“the fourth
race”).
Page | of 5
5. Calder Race Course, Inc. and Gulfstream Park are operated by one or more
permitholders authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering in this state under chapter 550,
Florida Statutes.
6. “DANCING DONUT” finished in first place in the fourth race.
7. On October 28, 2018, a Division employee collected blood serum sample number
912547 from “DANCING DONUT.”
8. Blood serum sample number 912547 was processed and forwarded to the University
of Florida Racing Laboratory (“the lab”) for analysis.
9. The lab tested blood serum sample number 912547 and found that it contained
methocarbamol, which is a skeletal muscle relaxant and Class IV drug under the Uniform
Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances as promulgated by the Association of Racing
Commissioners International, Inc.
10. Methocarbamol was detected at a blood serum concentration level of 1.16 +/- 0.05
ng/mL in blood serum sample number 912547.
11. Pursuant to section 550.2415(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2018):
The racing of an animal that has been impermissibly medicated or
determined to have a prohibited substance present is prohibited. It is a
violation of this section for a person to impermissibly medicate an
animal or for an animal to have a prohibited substance present resulting
in a positive test for such medications or substances based on samples
taken from the animal before or immediately after the racing of that
12. According to rule 61D-6.008(2)(q), Florida Administrative Code (2018),
methocarbamol detected at a blood serum concentration greater than | ng/mL is prohibited.
Page 2 of 5
13. Section 550.2415(1)(c), Florida Statutes, states “[t]he finding of a prohibited
substance in a race-day specimen constitutes prima facie evidence that the substance was
administered and was carried in the body of the animal while participating in the race.”
14. Rule 61D-6.002(1), Florida Administrative Code, provides "[t]he trainer of record
shall be responsible for and be the absolute insurer of the condition of the horses...he/she enters
to race."
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Division enter an Order imposing
against Respondent one or more of the penalties specified in rule 61D-6.011, Florida
Administrative Code, section 550.2415(3)(a), Florida Statutes, and/or any other relief that the
Division is authorized to impose pursuant to chapter 550, Florida Statutes, and/or the rules
promulgated thereunder.
This Administrative Complaint for DBPR Case No. 2018-059906 is signed this 17th day
of December, 2018.
‘s/ James A. Lewis /s/ Louis Trombetta
JAMES A. LEWIS LOUIS TROMBETTA
Assistant General Counsel Chief Attorney
Florida Bar No. 1002349 Florida Bar No. 0108119
James.Lewis@MyFloridaLicense.com Louis. Trombetta@MyF loridaLicense.com
Office of the General Counsel
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202
Telephone: (850)-717-1585
Facsimile: (850) 921-1311
Page 3 of 5
NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO REQUEST A HEARING
Pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, you have the right to request a
hearing to challenge the charges contained in this Administrative Complaint. If you choose to
request a hearing, you will have the right to be represented by counsel, or other qualified
representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to
have subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on your behalf.
Any request for an administrative proceeding to challenge or contest the charges
contained in this Administrative Complaint must conform to rule 28-106.2015, Florida
Administrative Code. Pursuant to rule 28-106.111, Florida Administrative Code, you must
request a hearing within 21 days from receipt of this Notice, or you will waive your right to
request a hearing.
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO REQUEST A SPLIT SAMPLE
Pursuant to rule 61D-6.006, Florida Administrative Code, you have the right to request a
split sample with respect to each “Report of Positive Result” from the UF Lab. (Copy attached as
Exhibit “A”). To request a split sample, use Form DBPR PMW-3290, Notification to
Stewards/Judge of Split Sample Request (Form 3290).
You can obtain Form 3290, as well as a list of approved split samples laboratories, at the
State Office located in any Florida pari-mutuel facility, or on the Division’s website:
www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pmw/forms.html, You must submit Form 3290 to the state
steward, Division hearing officer, or office of the General Counsel, within 10 days from receipt
of this Notice, or you will waive your right to request a split sample.
Page 4 of 5
11-26-18; 05: 26PM: PMW Oper °
UNIVERSITY of sax ABE
UF IFLORIDA a
College cf Medicine coton > sex ace
4
Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Mesti FINISH | RACE
meacn 2s —______
TRAINER is :
November 26, 2018
same Ten Sane
Mr. Robert Ehrhardt, Director SAMPLED BY. a
Division of Par-Mutue! Wagering
Department of Sueiness and Professional Regulation STATE
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL $2389-1037 OWNER'S
LICENSE NUMBER <
: ‘ieport of Positive Rest
Re TATTOO NUMBER.
tomnmne by liquid chromatography-tandem nies L Se on ezy Tiemorens) =) tour
to contain the follow
mathocarbamo! found in serum
pathocaroamol (a skeletal muscie relaxant and class 4 drug) - the concentration of mathocarbamol is 1.16 +/-
ng.
0087974-FHB ” Horse Serum “a6 9 INTACT
Laboratory Number ‘Specimen Final Weight Seal
Calder Race Course 10/28/2018 10/30/2018
Collected From Date Collected Date Received
Purmuant to Chapter 650.2416 (1), FS. the public disclosure of the information contained in this Raport of
Positive Result is authorized on or after 12/05/2018, or upon commencement of administrative action, whichever
occurs first.
Margaret Habe, FAORC - t y
Associate Director
=o
“same | Page tof 1 19-50
The Foundation for The Gator Nation
‘An Equal Opportunity Institution
EXHIBIT A
Page 5 of 5
Docket for Case No: 20-002646PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jul. 08, 2020 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jul. 07, 2020 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
Jul. 07, 2020 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed (Filed in error).
|
Jun. 23, 2020 |
Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 20-2552, 20-2639, 20-2640, 20-2641, 20-2642, 20-2643, 20-2644, 20-2646)
|
Jun. 23, 2020 |
Amended Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Jun. 23, 2020 |
Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 19 through 21 and August 24, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to date, consolidation, and videoteleconferencing).
|
Jun. 18, 2020 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Jun. 11, 2020 |
Initial Order.
|
Jun. 10, 2020 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2020 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2020 |
Agency referral filed.
|