The Horseracing Welfare and Integrity Unit has suspended and fined three trainers and disqualified dozens of horses from race results as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged conspiracy at Penn National Race Course to secretly inject horses with corticosteroids before races and workouts.
Intra-articular injections, used to treat inflammation and pain, are not permitted within 14 days of a race or seven days of a workout, under rules administered by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. HIWU is HISA’s enforcement agency, and its investigators charge that the practice was being done rampantly at Penn National in Grantville, Pa., in 2023 and 2024.
The penalties announced March 14 were against trainers Kimberly Graci, Marlin Arthur “Joe” Miller, and Erin Carpio.
From three listed resolutions posted to the HIWU website, Graci was fined a total of $5,500—$3,000 for working two horses within seven days of a workout and $2,500 for 66 instances of running a horse in a race within 14 days of injection.
HIWU suspended Graci 30 days beginning March 15 and ordered the disqualification of all involved results and the forfeiture of purses and any other compensation. Graci has not started a horse since Oct. 24, 2024. In a training career dating back to 2000, she has 4,257 starts, with 693 wins and earnings of $10,369,974.
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All six of Miller’s charges announced Friday were related to his training of Highway Queen, a Super Saver mare born in 2018 who ran 54 times, winning just twice. Highway Queen was injured and taken away in an ambulance following a $4,000 claiming race Aug. 28, 2024, at Penn National. She has not worked or raced since.
The six charges announced March 14 against Miller—all for running Highway Queen in a race within 14 days of injection—were treated as one offense under HISA guidance. Miller was fined $2,500 and suspended 30 days beginning March 15. Highway Queen was disqualified from those six races, and the purses will be forfeited. Her best finish in those races was second.
Miller has not started a horse since Oct. 25, 2024. He has 1,132 career starts dating back to 2004, with 73 wins and earnings of $1,256,591.
Carpio’s seven published resolutions were for running four horses under her care within 14 days of injection. All her offenses were treated as one offense under HISA guidance. Carpio was fined $2,500 and suspended for 30 days beginning March 15. Her horses have been disqualified, and HISA ordered the forfeiture of purses and other compensation related to those races.
Carpio remains an active trainer, starting a horse at Penn National as recently as March 13. She has been training since 2013 and has 24 wins and earnings of $656,115.
BloodHorse was unable to reach any of the trainers for comment Saturday.
