Suspended quarter horse trainers Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor get extension for appeal

Posted by author March 7, 2025 Horse Racing

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Attorneys for suspended quarter horse trainers Toby Keeton and Heath Taylor requested and were given a second 10-day continuance by the New Mexico Racing Racing Commission stewards in their appeals of multiple positives for the banned medication carmoterol after races at The Downs at Albuquerque in 2024.

The continuances, granted Wednesday, March 5, expires on March 15 and the next hearing is scheduled for March 16.

Keeton is being represented by attorney Clark Brewster and Taylor is being represented by attorney Billy Blackburn.

Hezgothelook Z, winner of the $3 million All American Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses, and 11 other horses tested positive for the banned medication. Keeton trained Hezgothelook Z.

Hezgothelook Z also won the Ruidoso and Rainbow Futuities last summer and the All American Futurity win gave him the Triple Crown. Hezgothelook Z is still considered the Triple Crown winner, according to the New Mexico Racing Commission until due process has run its course.

The All American Futurity is the most recognizable quarter horse race in the world and is the Kentucky Derby of horse quarter horse racing.

Trainers Toby Keeton (seven) and M. Heath Taylor (five) were responsible for all 12 positives and were summarily suspended, New Mexico Racing Commission Executive Director Izzy Trejo said. The commission announced the positive tests and suspensions on Feb. 12. Keeton had already been suspended in Texas for carmoterol positives at Lone Star Park.

The New Mexico positive drug tests were made public on Feb. 12. The All American Futurity race was run Sept. 2, 2024 and all the positive results came from the Sept. 2 races.

Keeton and Taylor are allowed to appeal positive drug tests.

Trejo said Wednesday that he hopes the appeal process can wrap up soon to move forward with releasing purses tied to the Sept. 2 program, including the $3 million from the 2025 All American Futurity race.

“We have a responsibility to move the process along and want this resolved as soon as possible,” Trejo said.

Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fcvezeptimes on X