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Commission Reinstates Trainer James P. Watts Absolved of Any Intent to Break Maryland Rules in Drugging Case BALTIMORE, Md., May 10. The Maryland Racing Commission, - following a special meeting this morning in its Baltimore office, announced thot trainer James P. Watts had been reinstated and was eligible to immediately take over the training of the horses which race for Carl M. Graham. Watts had been suspended indefinitely by the Bowie stewards after the alleged discovery of a drug the nature of procaine in the urine of the two-year-old Bowie Kindergarten Stakes winner, Will See. At todays meeting, D. Eldred Rinehart, chairman of the commission, announced the following: "After hearing and considering the evidence produced in this case, the commission rules as follows: "Resolved that it was proved beyond question that procaine was present in the urinalysis taken from the horse Will See, winner of the sixth race at Bowie on Saturday, May 1, 1954. The evidence presented by the state on this point was not disputed. "At the same time, the licensee, trainer James Porter Watts, indicated by his own testimony and by the testimony of his witness. Dr. George Palmer, a licensed veterinarian, that an injection of penicillin containing procaine was administered to the horse Will See in connection with treatment for a laceration on the shoulder. The injection was made by Dr. Palmer in the rump at about 5:30 pjn. on April 29th and the post time for the race was 4:30 pjn. on May 1st, approximately 47 hours after the injection. "There is no evidence in this case of any intent to break the rules of racing. The injection was administered by a licensed veterinarian who testified that he did not advise the trainer that the drug was present in the penicillin injection prescribed and administered. Under the circumstances, no guilt can be imputed to the trainer. "This conclusion in no way is intended to relieve trainers of any responsibility which they assume under the rules of racing when they are licensed. With the advance of veterinary medicine, trainers must be on the alert at all times in connection with the treatment of horses in their care. "For the reasons stated, it is hereby, on this 10th day of May, 1954, ordered that trainer James Porter Watts, 143 E. Wood-lawn, Louisville, Ky age 39, be and hereby Continued on Page Forty-Four Commission Reinstates Trainer James P. Watts Absolved of Any Intent to Break Maryland Rules in Drugging Case Continued from Page Three is exonerated and restored to good standing." After Watts suspension had been announced during the Bowie meeting, owner Graham expressed complete confidence in his trainer and offered the opinion that Watts would be absolved. Graham also suggested that Will See meet the starters he downed in the Kindergarten in a special race at Pimlico, with Will Sess shar., of that purse to be donated to a fund for injured pockey Mike Caffarella. In discussing the Kindergarten race of Will See, Graham offered the opinion that he had "a mighty shifty two-year-old, one capable of handling himself in creditable fashion, regardless of the company." In winning the Kindergarten, Will See was timed in :58, thus shattering the five-furlong track record previously held by the mighty Equipoise. Under the Maryland racing rules, the winners share of the Kindergarten Purse, which was taken away from Graham, goes to Thomas T. Motts Auburn Farm, whose Powder Flask finished second in the fixture for two-year-olds.
