The 10-time O’Brien Trainer of the Year in Canada has been suspended indefinitely, but maintains his innocence in a case involving Pepsi North America Cup starter Funtime Bayama. He vows to appeal.

by Melissa Keith

On Monday (July 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Richard Moreau-trained horses won four of 10 races on the card. The next night all of the trainer’s horses were scratched by the judges for an alleged EPO positive on his former trainer Funtime Bayama.

The matter is still being investigated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Moreau told HRU he plans to appeal the decision to the province’s independent Horse Racing Appeal Panel (HRAP).

Moreau told HRU on Thursday that he did not want to discuss the case in detail, yet.

“I’m low profile,” he said. “I’m working to get out of the problem, but I’m not the kind of guy to post anything too much. I’m sorry, I’ll go step by step. I’m dealing with the racing commission and lawyers right now.”

On Monday, Fashion Frenzie wired the field in 1:52.2 in the race 2 preferred handicap trot for Louis-Philippe Roy. Mister Magic and driver James MacDonald won race 3, for trotters that had raced for a purse of $15,000 or less in one of their last three starts, in a seasonal-best 1:53. In race 4, for non-winners of $14,500 in their last five starts, trotter Stonebridge Bravo and MacDonald beat Moreau stablemate Nasey (driven by Doug McNair) as they finished 1-2 in the 1:53.1 mile. Bella Cavalla won race 8, for trotters who were non-winners of $8,000 in their last five starts, winning in a new lifetime mark of 1:53 flat for Moreau and MacDonald. Two Moreau horses finished off the board: breaker Gaines Hanover in race 2, and Grateful in race 10.

Although four Moreau trainees were entered to race the following night (Tuesday, July 23) at Mohawk, all four horses were judges’ scratches before the start of race 1. Aquinas Hanover (race 1), Bad Eye Bill (race 5), Betterholdontight and Thrilling Times (both race 8) were declared ineligible to start.

The July 23, 2024 AGCO judges’ report for Mohawk cited AGCO ruling #2756963, which found that Funtime Bayama, formerly trained by Moreau, had tested positive for the banned substance darbepoetin alfa (DPO) in a June 10, 2024 out-of-competition test. AGCO deputy registrar Katherine Cunningham issued the official ruling.

Described by the AGCO as “a prohibited performance-enhancing non-therapeutic substance which adversely affects the integrity of racing,” DPO is sold under the name “Aranesp” for the treatment of anemia in human patients with kidney disease or undergoing chemotherapy. It is also used in veterinary settings, for cats and dogs with anemia due to kidney disease. In the context of harness racing, it is classified as an illegal erythropoietin (EPO) stimulating agent, a long-lasting blood booster with proteins foreign to those naturally occurring in horses. The result can be anemia and death.

The gravity of the matter was evident in the AGCO’s immediate full suspension of Moreau, the 10-time O’Brien Trainer of the Year in Canada (2013-2022). The ruling states that “all horses owned wholly or in part, or trained by Moreau, are ineligible to be entered or race, but may be transferred to the care of another trainer approved by the AGCO race officials.”

Prior to speaking briefly to HRU on Thursday, Moreau maintained his innocence in a post on Wednesday on his Facebook account.

It read: “Good evening everyone. Simply to say thanks to all who texted me today. Stories change, time pass[es]. For all of you who know me, obviously, I didn’t do it but… Life goes on. Thanks for your support.”

Funtime Bayama set the 1:50.1 Canadian and Mohawk track record for 2-year-old pacing geldings on Sept. 2, 2023 in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold leg 4 for driver Sylvian Filion, son of the horse’s original breeder, owner, and trainer Yves Filion. Moreau trained Funtime Bayama from his July 7, 2023 Mohawk debut until the gelding was sold to American interests after finishing third in the June 15, 2024 North America Cup final.

Currently owned by William Pollock and Bruce Areman of Freehold, NJ and trainer Andrew Harris of Allentown, NJ, Funtime Bayama finished second to Nijinsky in their July 6 Meadowlands Pace elimination.

The gelding left aggressively for driver Dexter Dunn in the July 13 final, advancing uncovered from fourth to make front by the :26.2 opening quarter. He put up little resistance when eventual winner Legendary Hanover challenged him first-over at the :53.2 half, allowing the colt to clear to the lead. Funtime Bayama pulled the pocket approaching three quarters and even though Dunn pulled the plugs, Funtime Bayama was not advancing. He backed through the field after Yannick Gingras moved Gem Quality off the rail and appeared to hit Funtime Bayama with his wheel.

He finished a distanced last, individually timed in 1:52.4.

On July 13, before the Meadowlands Pace, owner Pollock told interviewer Dave Little about buying Funtime Bayama.

“Andrew Harris tried to talk me out of it, because he’s only going to be a fun horse to win races, stand in the winner’s circle. After that, he’s no use to you. I said, ‘That’s okay.’ My son was in the car with me at the time when I was negotiating. The guy wanted more; we offered less; we met somewhere in the middle, and the guy took it. He’s a great horse,” said Pollock, adding that he wanted to build “a championship barn.”

Moreau had an HRAP hearing on Feb. 6, 2023 concerning a Lasix (furosemide) overage for the disqualified horse Nine Ways. The trainer was fined $2,000; ordered to return purse money and trainer-driver fees; suspended from Feb. 7-21, 2023, inclusive; and required to complete the AGCO Equine Medication and Awareness Program.

On March 1, 2024, Moreau had another HRAP hearing, concerning a Lasix overage in the horse Real Willey, who won on June 19, 2023 at Mohawk. The trainer was fined a total of $2,500 for positive tests on June 19, 2023 and July 22, 2023. Real Willey was subsequently disqualified from both races, with purse redistribution ordered. Moreau filed an appeal.

The Puslinch, ON-based trainer has only raced one horse in the United States in the last 20 years, finishing seventh at Buffalo Raceway with Emmas Lilly on July 11, 2009 in a New York Sires Stake race. He is the current seasonal leader in the Mohawk trainer standings, with 115 wins from 661 starts this year at the Campbellville, ON track. His trainees have won a combined $2,275,958 at Mohawk this year.