Clandestine horse racing (with doping and mistreatment): a criminal network dismantled in the Trapani area

Behind the appearance of simple meetings between horse enthusiasts, according to investigators, was hidden a real criminal structure capable of organizing clandestine races with method and continuity. The heart of the illegal activity would have been agricultural land in the Triscina area, a seaside village in the municipality of Castelvetrano in the province of Trapani, transformed into an improvised racecourse with groomed tracks, starting boxes and rest areas for the animals.

The investigation coordinated by the Marsala Prosecutor’s Office led to the issuing of five precautionary measures against Italian citizens residing between Palermo, Campobello di Mazara and Castelvetrano. For them the investigating judge has ordered a ban on residence in Sicily and the obligation to report to the judicial police.

Races scheduled via chat as official events

One of the aspects that most struck investigators concerns the level of organization of the system. The races, in fact, were not improvised, but prepared through groups on messaging applications where the participation of jockeys and teams were collected, the racing heats were defined and even the starting positions were assigned.

According to what emerged from the investigations by the Carabinieri of Castelvetrano, the organizers also disseminated videos of the illegal competitions, helping to create a stable network of participants from different areas of Sicily. The investigative activity, which began in February 2024 after a report from an environmentalist association, developed for over a year through hidden cameras, forensic analysis of mobile phones and veterinary checks carried out together with the ASP Veterinary Service and the Cites Unit of the Palermo Carabinieri.

Horses doped and subjected to extreme conditions

The harshest picture that emerged from the investigation, however, concerns the treatment reserved for animals. Investigators speak of systematic mistreatment, breeding conditions incompatible with the well-being of horses and the use of banned doping substances to increase their performance during races. Laboratory analyzes would have confirmed the presence of drugs and compounds used to alter the physical resistance of animals. In at least one documented incident, a horse reportedly suffered a broken leg during a competition.

In addition to the five recipients of the precautionary measures, seven other people are under investigation, including horse owners and jockeys who, although not part of the association, took part in the clandestine races organized in the Trapani area. Investigations continue to reconstruct any further connections and responsibilities.

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