| Complaint: | Complaint 22-110 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Amanda Holland |
| Premises: | Turf Paradise |
The complainant, a veterinarian (Vernin Jones), reports that Holland injected a horse under his care with Lasix. We're told that Holland had no client/patient relationship with the horse or its owner. Jones had already given a Lasix shot earlier that day, and the double-dose required that the horse be scratched from some subsequent races over the following weeks. He relates that Wise, the horse's owner, had filed the proper paperwork, and he was told by both Holland and the state veterinarian (Susan Gale) that this had happened before and was no big deal. He states that he's concerned about other horses and believes Gale is working with Holland to keep him away from treating Wise's horse.
Declarations from Jones and Wise are included with the complaint.
Holland's response is from her lawyer. It states that Holland was recruited by none other than the state of Arizona through the Arizona Racing Commission to care for the horses at Turf Paradise. Even the veterinary board's own Victoria Whitmore gets a name-drop for "being most helpful in assisting Dr. Holland make the decision to come to Turf Paradise" from Montana; we're told the program at Turf Paradise was said to be acceptable to the veterinary board. And as the horse was at Turf Paradise, and the Arizona Racing Commission and the Arizona Horsemens' Benevolent & Protective Association hired Holland to take care of the horses at Turf Paradise, Holland has a valid client-patient relationship with all the horses at Turf Paradise.
Among other points made, we're told that there was a list of Lasix administrations made when a Lasix injection program went into effect. As Lasix was deemed necessary for horse racing, they created this entire setup as an alternative to ending horse racing forever. A Lasix list was set up and Jones should have checked it and refrained from giving the injection. (We're also told that Jones stubbornly set up camp at Turf Paradise and was trying to treat horses.) In addition, we're told that Wise's statement wasn't actually signed, that a text message from him cleared Holland, and that the horse wasn't dangerously drugged even with two injections; indeed, one of the missed races was because the race was canceled.
The Investigative Committee found no violations, stating that Jones (rather than Holland) failed to follow track protocols. This meeting probably broke a record for the number of lawyers involved, with Jones, Holland, and Gale all bringing attorneys with them. The Board agreed with the Investigative Committee's recommendation and dismissed with no violations, then went on to open invstigations into Jones himself.
Turf Paradise has a curiously high rate of death for horses (link), with additional problems relating to both track standards and assessment fees with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (link). At least some of the problems appear to be related to differences between Arizona's state standards and national standards.
One online source claims Jones was caught up in some alleged injection scandal in Iowa (link), though we're also told it may have just been a big misunderstanding. On the other hand, Jones is also quoted as being in favor of a new objective measure for veterinarians in the horse industry (link).
| Source: | August 8, 2022 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Amanda Holland | Respondent |
| Michael Napier | Respondent Attorney |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Absent |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Gregg Maura | Aye |
| Justin McCormick | Recused |
| Steven Dow | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | September 9, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| David Stoll | Respondent Attorney |
| Proposed By: | Craig Nausley |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | September 9, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Craig Nausley |
| Seconded By: | Jane Soloman |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | September 9, 2022 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Craig Nausley |
| Roll Call: | |
| Craig Nausley | Aye |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Melissa Thompson | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Absent |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.