Rick Dutrow, currently serving a 10-year suspension of his trainer’s license, filed suit in Brooklyn’s federal court on Monday accusing state racing officials of “wrongful and malicious actions” and handing down a “pre-ordained” result.
The suit was filed in the Eastern District Court, naming the former New York State Racing and Wagering Board, now the New York State Gaming Commission, as well as John Sabini, former chairman of the NYSRWB, board members Daniel Hogan and Charles Diamond and the Association of Racing Commissioners International as defendants.
“The defendants deprived Mr. Dutrow of due process under the law,” said Mitchell Elman, Dutrow’s attorney. “And the defendants engaged in wrongful and malicious actions against him.”
Dutrow, 53, trained numerous stakes winners, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown in 2008 and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Saint Liam in 2005. Dutrow was suspended in October 2011 for a history of rules violations, and began serving the 10-year ban this Jan. 17.—Additional reporting by Mitchel Maddux