The West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) has upheld a hearing examiner’s finding that the exclusion of a trainer by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort for allegedly violating the track’s anti-slaughter policy was reasonable.

The WVRC took the action Sept. 17 by denying an appeal of the ejection by Mark Wedig, who now has the option to appeal the decision in Circuit Court of Kanawha County, W. Va., or in circuit court in the county in which he resides or does business.

Mountaineer, located in Chester, W.Va., has an anti-slaughter policy stating that owners and trainers allotted stalls "shall not directly or indirectly cause a horse to be put to slaughter." That involves vetting third parties before horses are sold to them.

The track said anyone found to have violated the policy "may be subject to a range of penalties, including a loss of his or her stalls, a management exclusion from Mountaineer property, or any additional penalties as may be determined by the West Virginia Racing Commission board of stewards