According to a report in the Herald Bulletin, the racing commission issued a default judgment after Brower’s attorney, Pete Sacopulos, failed to request a trial before the 20-day deadline required by the IHRC. Sacopulos argued however, that Brower should have a chance to defend himself in court because of the seriousness of the allegations.
The sentence stems from an incident that occurred in August 2016 at Pace Setter Farm in Anderson. Brower is accused of beating B ABland so severely that the horse collapsed from exhaustion. The complaint alleges that Brower continued to whip, kick, and beat the horse after it collapsed.
Brower, who did not attend the hearing, said after the incident occurred that the charges were “overblown.â€
In over 20 years of training, Brower has had at least 44 rulings against him, including six for “indiscriminate use of whip.â€
“As I read the history of this person, I am not upset this will be a career-ending decision,†Commissioner Susie Lightle said prior to the ruling.