Toby Keeton, the record-setting U.S. Quarter Horse trainer of 2024, has been issued a second summary suspension by the Texas Racing Commission following allegations that 23 of his horses tested positive for banned substances. The violations, which reportedly occurred between September 7 and November 16 at Lone Star Park, involved the Class 1A drugs carmoterol and d-methamphetamine. Officials claim these substances influenced the results of multiple races.
Keeton, who previously set an all-time single-season earnings record for U.S. Quarter Horse trainers in 2024, was initially suspended on January 30 after a September 14 drug test detected carmoterol in a horse under his care. Juan Diaz Jr., the second-ranked Quarter Horse trainer by earnings in 2024, received a similar suspension on January 31 for the same violation.
On Monday, the Texas Racing Commission announced further allegations against Diaz, citing 25 additional positive tests for carmoterol at Lone Star Park between September 7 and November 9, 2024.
Meanwhile, Monty Arrossa, a Los Alamitos-based trainer, has been notified by the California Horse Racing Board that three of his horses tested positive for carmoterol in October and November. Among them was American Dreamin, who failed drug tests twice, including after winning the $1,046,800 Golden State Million Futurity on October 27. Unlike Keeton and Diaz, Arrossa has not yet been suspended, and the CHRB has not filed a formal complaint against him. He continues to enter horses in races at Los Alamitos.
Under the Texas Racing Act, possessing a prohibited substance “with the intent to influence or affect a horse or greyhound race” is classified as a third-degree felony. Texas Racing Commission Rule 319.3 strictly prohibits the administration of beta-agonists to racehorses at any time. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences describes carmoterol as a potent, long-acting beta-2 agonist with a rapid onset, making it a powerful bronchodilator.
The American Quarter Horse Association announced in December that its 2024 Racing Champions selection and awards dinner was postponed pending drug test results from major races across several states. One such event under review is the All American Futurity (G1), the premier Quarter Horse race, held on September 2 at Downs at Albuquerque after Ruidoso Downs was forced to curtail its summer meet due to fires and flooding. Keeton trained the race’s winner, Hezgothelook Z, owned by Triple One Ranch. He also secured victories in other major races that day, including the $200,000 All American Juvenile with Aquila Rapida and the $250,000 All American Gold Cup with Jess Good Wine. His horses also dominated the $1 million All American Derby, finishing first, second, third, and fifth.
No rulings have been issued by New Mexico officials regarding the All American Futurity day races.
Keeton’s success on that day alone earned $2.7 million, bringing his total 2024 earnings to $7,615,389, breaking the previous record of $7,484,434 set by Paul Jones in 2009, according to AQHA statistics. Keeton’s career has spanned over three decades, with 1,640 wins from 9,492 starts and total earnings of $28,915,551. His 31% win rate in 2024 was the highest of his career, significantly above his lifetime average of 17%.
At the 2024 Lone Star Park Quarter Horse meet, Keeton was the leading trainer by earnings, securing 16 wins from 95 starts and amassing $657,361.
As a result of the suspensions, Keeton and Diaz are banned from all Texas Racing Commission-regulated areas, and their horses are prohibited from racing unless transferred to an approved party. Additionally, their horses are not allowed to participate in timed workouts.
The New Mexico Racing Commission has upheld Keeton’s suspension in that state, enforcing the Texas ruling through reciprocity.
