Trainer Dodges HISA After Potent Clenbuterol Find

A recent ruling published by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) — the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program — has imposed four additional years of suspension on trainer Francisco Ramos. With these new penalties, Ramos is now barred from participating in racing within HISA-governed jurisdictions until 2040.

Despite these escalating sanctions, Ramos has continued to operate in West Virginia, a state outside HISA’s reach due to ongoing constitutional challenges. There, Ramos and his apparent business associate, Juan Aguirre, have moved horses between each other in a way that has effectively shielded them from meaningful regulatory consequences.

Banned Substances Discovered in Vehicle Search

The latest ruling, issued Oct. 30, 2025, stems from a vehicle search conducted by HIWU investigators on May 7, 2024, at Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Investigators uncovered two prohibited substances:

1. A foreign pharmacological product hidden under the back seat, manufactured in Mexico, and not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lab testing confirmed it contained Diisopropylamine, a vasodilator classified as a banned substance under the ADMC program.
2. A jug of red liquid was sealed with green tape in the rear driver-side door. Lab analysis revealed it held an intensely concentrated form of compounded clenbuterol — far stronger than the FDA-approved Ventipulmin — qualifying it as an S0 Non-Approved Banned Substance.

HIWU noted that this version of clenbuterol lacked any regulatory approval for veterinary or human use and exceeded standard concentration levels to a degree that triggered the sport’s most serious classification under Rule 4111.

Multiple Horse Positives Led to Earlier 12-Year Ban

Ramos had already been provisionally suspended on May 23, 2024, after six of his horses tested positive for clenbuterol. The affected horses included:

• What’cha Gonna Do
• Cindy’s Storm
• Jim’s River Runner
• Tequila Flats
• Total Smokeshow
• You’re A Dandy

A ruling on those violations was issued on Oct. 30, 2024, resulting in a 12-year suspension.

However, by the time the decision was handed down, Ramos had already shifted operations. According to HIWU, he worked for trainer Juan Raul Aguirre between June and September 2024, effectively remaining active in racing despite his provisional suspension. Equibase listings show that several of Ramos’ former trainees began racing under Aguirre’s name.

Strategic Move to West Virginia to Avoid HISA Oversight

Several horses tied to Ramos reappeared under Aguirre at Mountaineer Racetrack in West Virginia — including Sum Kinda Pretty, Scat Shack, and Cindy’s Storm — often with “Adrian Ramos” listed as the owner. Because HISA does not currently regulate West Virginia tracks, these horses continued racing without facing the same consequences they would elsewhere.

Once HIWU realized that Aguirre was employing a suspended individual, they issued Aguirre an 18-month suspension for associating with a banned trainer. Both men then appeared to relocate their racing operations entirely to West Virginia.

Aguirre’s Growing Record in West Virginia

Before his HIWU suspension, Aguirre raced mainly in Ohio at Mahoning Valley and Belterra Park. Afterward, he raced exclusively at Mountaineer, tallying:

• 4 wins from 100 starters in 2024, a significant increase from his 20 starts in 2023
• 2 wins from 68 starters in 2025

That drop in starters in 2025 is linked to another drug incident involving a former Ramos-trained horse.

Scat Shack: Continued Positives and Mild Penalties

Scat Shack, one of the original horses that tested positive under Ramos, was barred from HISA tracks for 14 months. The horse moved to West Virginia, where Aguirre became the listed trainer.

On June 10, 2025, Scat Shack finished third, but a post-race test came back positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. In response, the West Virginia Racing Commission:

• Suspended Aguirre for 15 days
• Fined him $500

West Virginia classifies clenbuterol as a Class 3 substance with a B penalty, resulting in significantly weaker penalties than HISA’s strict bans. Under HISA, Ramos had received a two-year suspension for a positive test.

Yet even after the positive test, Scat Shack was allowed to continue racing in West Virginia. The only change: Francisco Ramos was suddenly listed as both trainer and owner again. The horse’s performance plummeted, failing to hit the board in 11 starts in 2025 and frequently showing poor form, such as “never involved” or “always outrun.”

Both Trainers Still Actively Racing in West Virginia

Records show that both Aguirre and Ramos resumed racing in West Virginia after serving their state-imposed suspensions. Neither is allowed to run within HISA-covered states; however, West Virginia’s lack of HISA oversight has enabled both trainers to continue their business with minimal interruption.

Full Penalties Issued After Ramos Ignored HIWU Communications

HIWU noted in its latest ruling that Ramos failed to respond to multiple attempts regarding the possession charges. As a result, the agency imposed the full disciplinary measures:

• 4 additional suspended years (two years per banned substance)
• $50,000 in fines

Ramos’ total HIWU suspension now runs through May 29, 2040.