Trainer Roberto Rosado has been provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) for “compromising the welfare” of covered horses after three of his trainees tested positive for banned substances.
According to the notice of violation posted on HISA’s rulings portal, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) has charged Rosado with three anti-doping rule violations involving three different horses in three different races. Each horse reportedly tested positive for two banned substances: mephentermine and phentermine.
The notice details: “Mephentermine is a cardiac stimulant capable of being used for performance enhancement with no known therapeutic use in active covered horses. Mephentermine has the potential to create fatal arrhythmias. Phentermine is also
a stimulant, and has no legitimate usage in the treatment of covered horses.”
The affected horses and races were as follows:
HC Holiday – April 1, 2026, race one at Parx Racing (finished second)
Happyflyer – April 3, 2026, race three at Penn National (finished second)
Solemn Oath – April 22, 2026, race seven at Parx Racing (winner)
The individual cases are still pending before HIWU, though all three horses have been suspended from racing at this time. (Editor’s note: Happyflyer has raced twice since the positive test at Charles Town in West Virginia under a different trainer; West Virginia is not governed by HISA rules due to ongoing lawsuits.)
Due to the nature of the HIWU cases, HISA has taken the additional step to provisionally suspend Rosado’s trainer’s license as of June 19, 2026. The provisional suspension will remain in effect until a hearing has been held.
“The recent discovery of Banned Substances in multiple covered horses under your care
presents an immediate threat of serious injury or death to covered horses or riders,” the notice of violation details. “Banned substances are prohibited not only because they can enhance the performance of covered horses, but also because their properties can have a detrimental impact on horse welfare and compromise the safety of the rider. With respect to the two banned substances at issue in this notice, neither substance has a legitimate usage in the treatment of active Covered Horses, and carries the risk of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.”
Rosado began training in 2023 after retiring from his career as a longtime jockey at Parx Racing. He won 1,048 races during his 25-year career, during which he also earned the 1997 Eclipse Award as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. As a trainer, Rosado has saddled 21 winners from 149 starters for earnings of $508,756. He has not made any starts since May 25, 2026.
About the author
Chelsea is an avid equestrian with experience ranging from ponying on the racetrack to jumping her own off-track Thoroughbred around the Kentucky Horse Park. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program, and has an MBA from Indiana University. She is passionate about equine advocacy and bettering the human-equine relationship.