The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) wants to make it clear to gaming operators in the Hawkeye State that it’s in charge and that it’s keeping a hawk eye’s view over their activity.  The regulatory body held its monthly meeting last Tuesday, doling out several fines to casinos and venues that had violated its rules.  In total, three venues are now breaking out their wallets to cover $50,000 in penalties.

Prairie Meadows Casino Racetrack Hotel was presented with a gift in the form of a $20,000 fine for not holding a tighter grip on the reins during a horse race last year.  In August, Taruca, a five-year-old chestnut gelding, participated in a claiming race and took the victory by a massive eight lengths.  However, track officials realized they had made a mistake the following day and told the Iowa Board of Stewards (BoS) that the horse was allowed to run with an expired blood test, the Coggins test.

That incident was embarrassing for the track, and led to the dismissal of the employee responsible for verifying the Coggins test.  Taruca had also been claimed for purchase, but that purchase was denied by the BoS over the missing test and the gelding was disqualified from the race.  On arbitration by an administrative law judge, the claim was reinstated and Taruca was sold for $16,000.

The same month that Taruca was causing a ruckus at the racetrack, another horse, Jessica Glitters, was having difficulty of her own.  Trainer Robert Roe called the racetrack to list her for the Iowa Breeders’ Oaks race, but someone at the track screwed up and the horse was never entered.