OpinionPeter Scargill
premium

US racing's most shameful episode is drawing to a close - but the whiff of suspicion will take much longer to shake off

author image
Deputy industry editor
Maximum Security's trainer Jason Servis and jockey Luis Saez wait for the result of the stewards' inquiry
Jason Servis: pleaded guilty to doping charges in December last yearCredit: Rob Carr (Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Jason Servis will be jailed. The punishment facing the former trainer is up to four years in prison and a fine potentially running into millions of dollars after he pleaded guilty to his role in one of international horseracing’s most notorious doping episodes.

Servis, 66, accepted that he was involved in distributing adulterated and misbranded drugs intended for administration in racehorses he trained. He is the last of the high-profile figures in the affair to be sentenced after three years of court cases and many more of investigation.

It was only days after the biggest win of his career that Servis’s career came crashing down. On February 29, 2020, Servis produced Maximum Security to land the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup before he was one of a number of trainers, veterinarians and medication manufacturers and distributors who were raided by the FBI on March 9.

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

Published on inPeter Scargill

Last updated

iconCopy