27 indicted for alleged drugging of racehorses

Jason Servis among those indicted

Live horse racing is still a month and a half away at minnesota's canterbury parkáááá but when live racing returns on may 4thááá a cloud will remain over the entire sport.

In new york, more than two dozen horse training professionals have been federally indicted for a widespread scheme to illegally dope racehorses.

It is another black eye for a sport still reeling from the deaths of dozens of horses last year at storied santa anita park.

27 veterinarians, trainers and others charged with drugging racehorses on the sports biggest stages.

Among those chargedáááá jason servisááá the trainer of maximum securityááá the super colt that finished first in the kentucky derby but was later disqualified for drifting into the path of another horse.

Today's allegations against 27 individuals in the horse racing industry shines a light on the severity of their crimes and the impact of those crimes on the horses and it will continue to be a priority for our office to investigate and prosecute those who seek to profit from the inhumane treatment of animals.

The drugs can prompt horses to over exert themselves or mask a horse's ability to feel paináááá which can lead to injuries or death.

The fbi's william sweeney offered a chilling account of the impact of the drugs on the fleetá footed athletes.

Ped's were given to racehorses in an effort to increase their performance beyond their natural abilities.

These substances stimulated endurance, deadened nerves, increased oxygen intake and reduced inflammation.

What actually happened to the horses amounted to nothing less than abuse.

Horse racing is a 100á billion dollar industry worldwide.

Racehorses can sell for millions before competing for purses worth millions.

The indicment is particularly damning for the aforementione d jason servisáá áá widely regarded as one of the sport's top trainers.

Prosecutors say servisááá doped virtually all horse under his control including maximum security.

Although the colt was disqualified in last year's kentucky derby, last month he won ten million dollars in the inaugural saudi cup.

Let's take