Trainer Ingrid Mason has been banned from Oaklawn Park for a period of five years and is reportedly under investigation by the Horse Racing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). Mason told the Paulick Report that agents from Oaklawn Park’s HIWU caught her with a needle, syringe, and an injectable substance called “Moubex.”
She admitted, “It was my fault,” and expressed confusion over why anyone would wager on such an issue. Mason maintained that she does not administer injections to horses on race day and explained that Movex, an injectable chondroitin 4-sulfate product, is not listed as a banned substance on the manufacturer’s website.
Despite this, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) rules prohibit anyone other than a certified veterinarian from possessing syringes with needles on racetrack grounds (HISA Rule 2230(e)). Past violations of syringe possession under HISA have led to penalties like a 30-day suspension and a $2,000 fine, though a spokesperson noted that fines and suspensions could vary depending on the severity and number of items involved.
Mason reported that HIWU investigators informed her the syringe’s contents would be tested to verify her claim that it contained Movex. She said, “I’m an overachiever and always try to do the right thing for the horse, but I shouldn’t have done that. I showed them what I used. It’s not forbidden or harmful. My goal was to help the horse and do what’s best.”
She also mentioned that while veterinarians tend to use pricier joint supplement brands, she chooses Movex because it is available online without a prescription. Nonetheless, she acknowledged, “I still shouldn’t have used it.”
A representative from HIWU could not confirm if an official investigation is underway, but Mason reports investigators told her they are sending the syringe for content testing. Additionally, investigators collected a liquid containing L-arginine from her barn, an amino acid considered a Class C controlled drug if given as a supplement during a race.
Oaklawn Park officials have yet to comment on Mason’s suspension. According to a stewards’ ruling published by the International Association of Horse Racing Commissioners, Mason’s mutual exclusion was ordered on February 6. Two horses she entered at Oaklawn that day were declared impaired by the stewards.
The ruling notes, “The Oaklawn Park Trustee, who was removed by security on February 5, 2026, excludes trainer Ingrid Mason from Oaklawn Park until management grants re-entry. Ms. Mason has waived her right to a stewards’ hearing regarding this matter.”
According to Equibase, Mason is a highly successful trainer with 588 career wins, frequently ranked among Oaklawn’s top 10 trainers. Recently, HISA and HIWU also pursued legal action against Eusebio Rufino, a former part-time employee of Mason. More details on that case are available separately.
This article was originally published by the Paulick Report on February 6, 2026, under the News section.
Fan Take: This development underscores increasing efforts to uphold integrity and safety in horse racing, vital for maintaining public trust in the sport. For fans, it highlights that even top trainers are held accountable, which could lead to a cleaner, more transparent racing industry in the future.
