Trainer Jason Servis faces prison after pleading guilty to doping charges

Jason Servis, for years one of the top trainers in America, pleaded guilty in a New York courtroom on Friday to doping horses in his care, including the 2020 Saudi Cup winner Maximum Security.

Servis, 65, faces up to four years in prison when he is sentenced in May. The trainer was one of 31 defendants in the case, which sparked national headlines when prosecutors announced indictments nearly three years ago.

The defendants had been charged with doping horses with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were undetectable by racing regulators. Prosecutors said the use of PEDs by greedy trainers corrupted the sport, cheated the betting public and endangered horses who were asked to perform beyond their natural capabilities.

Servis pleaded guilty in connection with his role in the distribution of adulterated and misbranded drugs intended for horses he trained.

Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: "Servis's conduct represents corruption at the highest levels of the racehorse industry.

"As a licensed trainer, Servis was bound to protect the horses under his care and to comply with racing rules designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of horses and protect the integrity of the sport.

"Servis abdicated his responsibilities to the animals, to regulators, and to the public."

Servis pleaded guilty to a new charge of misbranding and adulterating a chemical substance described by prosecutors as similar to the bronchodilator, clenbuterol, but stronger. He pleaded the same to another new charge of misbranding and adulterating a compound chemical called SGF-1000.

Servis had been scheduled to go on trial next month and would have faced 25 years in prison if convicted. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the previous charges against him and bring new ones. The trainer also agreed to forfeit $311,760 (£254,294) and to pay restitution in the amount of $163,932 (£133,715).

At the time of his arrest, prosecutors accused Servis of administering adulterated and misbranded PEDS, including SGF-1000, to "virtually all of the racehorses under his control".

Maximum Security (left) beats Midnight Bisou to win the Saudi CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Those horses included Maximum Security, who finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for interference during the running of the race.

Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil brought up Maximum Security's name during a portion of the proceeding that required Servis to admit his guilt. At that point, Servis's attorney Rita Glavin interjected to say her client would admit that Maximum Security had been administered SGF-1000 by a vet for his barn.

Among the races that Maximum Security won for Servis was the $20 million Saudi Cup in February 2020, just a month before the trainer's arrest, shortly after which Saudi Cup officials announced the winning purse was being withheld pending an investigation. An update from officials has been requested following the guilty plea by Servis.

Twenty-three of the 31 individuals charged have pleaded guilty, including Jorge Navarro, who was sentenced in December last year to five years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

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