Miller facing first drug test disqualification after meth positive

Leading California trainer Peter Miller, who claims never to have had a horse fail a dope test in 30 years training, faces losing a big race victory after sprinter Richard's Boy tested positive for the recreational drug methamphetamine.

Richard's Boy finished fifth in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March but last month was promoted to first in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup at Penn National on the disqualification of Bold Thunder for interference in the straight.

Miller has since been told Richard's Boy had tested positive for a trace level of methamphetamine. He is awaiting the result of a test of a B sample, believing the finding to be the result of contamination.

Richard's Boy (grey) won the California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita

Miller, a multiple Grade 1 winning trainer who is leading the standings at Santa Anita's current meet, told the Daily Racing Form, "This is my first positive, it’s surprising and disappointing. I don’t know what happened, but I know what didn’t happen. Neither me nor my crew administered this drug.

"Drugs are a societal problem nationwide, and I don’t think racing boards know how to deal with it. But they need to come to grips with it. When you run a horse he comes in contact with a lot of people – the assistant starters, the pony people, blacksmiths, the identifier. This situation has me scared, I’ll tell you that."