TRENTON
—Attorney General Peter C. Harvey
today announced that ongoing investigations
targeting the “doping” or
“drenching” of racehorses
with performance enhancing drugs prior
to scheduled races at the Freehold Raceway
has resulted in the indictment of a self-employed
trainer and a horse groom. The investigation
is being conducted by the New Jersey State
Police Organized Crime Bureau - Race Track
Unit, while the prosecution is coordinated
by the Division of Criminal Justice -
Organized Crime & Racketeering Bureau.
Attorney General Harvey and Vaughn L.
McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal
Justice, said the State Grand Jury returned
a four-count indictment charging Daniel
P. Sheddan, 26, Ward Avenue, Bordentown,
Burlington County, and Bruno Chiodo, 33,
Cross Park Blvd., Jackson, Ocean County,
with rigging a publicly exhibited contest
(4th degree) and conspiracy (4th degree).
Sheddan, a self-employed horse trainer,
was also charged with possession of a
controlled dangerous substance (3rd degree)
and tampering with evidence (4th degree).
Sheddan faces up to 6 ½ years in
state prison and a fine of up to $65,000.
Chiodo, a horse groom, faces up to 18
months in state prison and a fine of up
to $30,000.
“Maintaining
the integrity of New Jersey’s horse
racing industry is a priority for the
Attorney General’s Office and the
Division of Criminal Justice,” Attorney
General Harvey said. “State Police
detectives will continue to work behind
the scenes to investigate any and all
allegations of criminal activity that
might impact the fair outcome of races,
while Division of Criminal Justice prosecutors
have been charged with securing indictments
and prosecuting those who tamper or attempt
to fix the outcome of a race.”
Attorney General Harvey said the investigation
began in February when State Police detectives
assigned to the Race Track Unit developed
information that Sheddan was allegedly
involved in “drenching” or
“doping” horses prior to running
in scheduled races at Freehold Raceway.
“Drenching” is a racing industry
term that describes the administration
of a liquid or prohibited substance into
the horse’s stomach via a tube inserted
through the nose. Additionally, the investigation
targeted the use of illegal injections
of prohibited drugs or performance enhancing
substances directly into the blood stream
via injections through the jugular vein
in the animals neck.
According to Director McKoy, the State
Grand Jury indictment charges that the
alleged “drenching” occurred
on Feb. 21. The investigation determined
that on Feb. 21, while in the process
of serving a court authorized search warrant
for evidence related to the alleged “drenching”
of horses, State Police detectives observed
Sheddan and Chiodo in the act of administering
a suspected performance enhancing drug
to a horse scheduled to race later in
the day at Freehold Raceway. The court
authorized search of Barn #3, Magical
Acres Farm, located in Chesterfield, Burlington
County, uncovered a plastic bottle containing
approximately two quarts of a suspected
controlled dangerous substance, a hose,
funnel, and other items commonly used
to “drench” a horse. Additional
evidence seized via the search warrant
included a syringe containing a substance
later analyzed as testosterone. Subsequent
laboratory testing of the greenish-brown
liquid used in the alleged “drenching”
was confirmed to be a “milkshake”
of sodium bicarbonate and Levothyroxine
- a prescription drug commonly used to
enhance physical performance. Both substances
are prohibited under New Jersey Racing
Commission medication rules.
The investigation determined that the
name of the horse which had been “drenched”
was “Henry Clay” - scheduled
to run in the Third race at Freehold on
Feb. 21. Two other horses stabled in Barn
#3 -- “All Systems Go N” and
“El Nino Hanover” were inspected
for possible “drenching.”
The inspection uncovered a wet blood mark
in the neck of “All Systems Go N.”
There was no evidence that “El Nino
Hanover” had been tampered with.
“All Systems Go N” was scheduled
to run in the Fourth race, while “El
Nino Hanover” was slated to run
in the second race at Freehold on Feb.
21. All three horse were scratched from
the Feb. 21 race. Both Sheddan and Chiodo
have been suspended from horse racing
by the New Jersey Racing Commission. Sheddan
was suspended for seven years and fined
$2,000, while Chiodo was suspended for
six years and fined $1,000.
The State Grand Jury indictment was handed
up to Mercer County Superior Court Assignment
Judge Marianna Maria Sypek on May 13.
The case is assigned to the Burlington
County Superior Court for trial. Deputy
Attorney General Christine M. D’Elia
of the Division of Criminal Justice -
Organized Crime & Racketeering Bureau
presented the case to the State Grand
Jury.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy credited
the investigative efforts of State Police
Detective Brice Cote assigned to the State
Police Organized Crime Bureau, Race Track
Unit, for his efforts in conducting the
investigation.
A complaint summons will be issued to
both defendants to appear in Burlington
County Superior Court for arraignment
and bail. An indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless
or until proven guilty in a court of law.
Additional information is available via
the Division of Criminal Justice Web Page
at www.NJDCJ.org.
