Two racetrack veterinarians who are the principals of Maryland Veterinary Group (MVG) have been served with notices of violations and were given provisional suspensions that started Jan. 12 after Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) searches of that practice’s offices at Laurel Park and Delaware Park allegedly turned up “banned” substances that, under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules, are never to be found in any covered Thoroughbred or possessed on any HISA-regulated grounds.
Dr. Nicholas Meittinis and Dr. Adam Lockard are both alleged to have violated HISA Rule 2215 (“No Covered Person acting alone or in concert with another person shall compromise the welfare of a Covered Horse for competitive or commercial reasons…”) and Rule 2271(a)(1) (“Use of physical or veterinary procedures to mask the effects or signs of injury so as to allow training or racing to the detriment of the Covered Horse’s health and welfare.”)…