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Case ID: 1961

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: horse

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Case #1961 Rating: 5.0

Trainer Fails to seek veterinary care for racehorse
Scarborough, ME (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 5, 2003
County: Cumberland

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Chris Lefebvre

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Standardbred owners and other horse lovers in Cumberland County, Maine, are being asked for their help in a criminal case pertaining to the death of a Standardbred racehorse and the trainer charged with abuse in connection with that death.

A call has been put out to members of the horse industry in that area, asking them to request vigorous prosecution regarding the case of alleged abuse last year.

Trainer Chris Lefebvre, 24, of Cumberland was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after the death of the six-year-old pacing mare She's A Lady Too on June 5, 2003 at Scarborough Downs.

Lefebvre is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on Thursday, February 19.

Lefebvre has the option at that time to plead guilty or not guilty, or to agree to a possible plea bargain. If the case goes to trial, jury selection will begin on February 23.

The death of She's A Lady Too was investigated by the Maine Department of Animal Welfare and Standardbred Investigative Services, and a 30-page report was provided to the Cumberland County district attorney.

Approximately 20 people were interviewed as part of the dual investigation.

According to investigators, necropsy results cited aspiration pneumonia as the cause of She's A Lady Too's death. The mare was scheduled to race at Scarborough Downs on June 4 and was warmed up by Lefebvre, who later requested that the mare be scratched "sick."

The state veterinarian found the mare to be in respiratory distress and advised Lefebvre to seek immediate care for her. The mare was found dead in her stall the next day by track and Racing Commission officials. It is alleged that Lefebvre did not seek medical help for the horse for approximately 20 hours.

Lefebvre started training She's A Lady Too in February 2003. She had one second-place finish in nine starts, earned $570, and was scratched four times. She was owned by Gary Bonicker of Woodbridge, New Jersey; Romeo Forchetti of Yonkers, New York; and Gary D'Adamo's and Ralph Silvestri's The Sun and Moon Stables of Poughquag, New York.

Since August 1998, Lefebvre has received five Racing Commission penalties for leaving whip marks on horses. He also has been fined once for whipping in a manner to cause visual injury and once for excessive use of the whip after the wire. In 1999, he was fined once for kicking a horse.

Case Updates

March 10, 2004

The Cumberland County District Attorney issued a release yesterday stating that trainer Chris Lefebvre plead guilty to the misdemeanor animal cruelty charge regarding the death of six-year-old pacing mare She�s A Lady Too on June 5, 2003 at Scarborough Downs.

According to investigators, necropsy results cited aspiration pneumonia as the cause of She�s A Lady Too�s death. The mare was scheduled to race at Scarborough Downs on June 4, 2003 and was warmed up by Lefebvre, who later requested that the mare be scratched "sick."

The state veterinarian found the mare to be in respiratory distress and advised Lefebvre to seek immediate care for her. The mare was found dead in her stall the next day by track and Racing Commission officials. It is alleged that Lefebvre did not seek medical help for the horse for approximately 20 hours.

While it has been suggested by other trainers at Scarborough Downs that Lefebvre �tubed� the horse and therefore made her sick, the investigation uncovered no evidence to support this theory, so it cannot be proved. However, they had reasons to believe Lefebvre routinely mistreated animals in his care and it was and is very important to us that Lefebvre be held accountable for that. Although neither we nor the Court has the power to pull his training license, it is our hope and belief that the Harness Racing Commission, armed with his admission, will now do so," DA Anderson said.

Lefebvre does not hold a current Maine Commission license and his membership with the United States Trotting Association expired without renewal. Lefebvre is currently not eligible for USTA membership due to his animal cruelty conviction.

Update posted on Mar 12, 2004 - 12:01AM

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Thursday, March 04, 2004 - by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association

Trainer admits animal cruelty in Maine

Trainer Chris Lefebvre on Thursday admitted to a civil charge of cruelty to animals in Superior Court in Portland, Maine in connection with the death of pacing mare She�s A Lady Too on June 5, 2003 at Scarborough Downs.

According to Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Will Barry, Lefebvre was fined $500 with a recommendation that the Maine Harness Racing Commission revoke his license for two years.

Lefebvre, 24, of Cumberland was charged with animal cruelty after the death of the mare; necropsy results cited aspiration pneumonia as the cause of her demise. She's A Lady Too was scheduled to race at Scarborough on June 4 and was warmed up by Lefebvre, who later requested that the mare be scratched "sick."

The state veterinarian found the mare to be in respiratory distress and advised Lefebvre to seek immediate care for her. The mare was found dead in her stall the next day by track and racing commission officials. It was alleged that Lefebvre did not seek medical help for the horse for approximately 20 hours.

The death of She's A Lady Too was investigated by the Maine Department of Animal Welfare and Standardbred Investigative Services, with their 30-page report provided to the Cumberland County district

Update posted on Mar 4, 2004 - 9:38PM

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Friday, January 30, 2004 - by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Trainer Chris Lefebvre of Maine to stand trial

Trainer Chris Lefebvre of Maine is scheduled to stand trial in Superior Court in Portland, Maine starting February 19 in connection with the death of pacing mare She's A Lady Too on June 5, 2003 at Scarborough Downs.

Lefebvre was charged with animal cruelty after the death of the mare; necropsy results cite aspiration pneumonia as the cause of her demise. She's A Lady Too was scheduled to race at Scarborough on June 4 and was warmed up by Lefebvre, who later requested that the mare be scratched "sick."

The state veterinarian found the mare to be in respiratory distress and advised Lefebvre to seek immediate care for her. The mare was found dead in her stall the next day by track and racing commission officials.

On February 19, Lefebvre has the option to plead guilty. If he does not, jury selection will begin on February 23. When a jury is seated, the judge hearing the case has the option to begin trial immediately or hold the case over until the following week of March 1.

The death of She's A Lady Too was investigated by the Maine Department of Animal Welfare and Standardbred Investigative Services, with their reports provided to the Cumberland County District Attorney. The SIS investigator in this case has been called to testify in the trial.

Update posted on Mar 4, 2004 - 9:37PM

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Tuesday, December 10, 2003
Lefebvre trial postponed

The trial of Maine trainer Chris Lefebvre, who is accused of causing the death of the pacing mare She's a Lady Too on June 5 at Scarborough Downs, has been postponed with no new date set. Lefebvre pled not guilty at his arraignment in the Cumberland County court and was due to have a non-jury trial on December 15. He has since requested a jury trial and that date is expected to be set for early 2004.

She's A Lady Too was scheduled to race on June 4, but was scratched by the state verterinarian after warming up. Lefebvre was advised by the state veterinarian to seek immediate care for the mare. The mare died on June 5 and subsequent necropsy showed damaged lung tissue and aspiration pneumonia.

Investigations in to the mare's death were conducted by the Maine Department of Animal Welfare and the Standardbred Investigative Service and provided to the Cumberland County District Attorney.

Update posted on Mar 4, 2004 - 9:35PM

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Trainer Fails to seek veterinary care for racehorseScarborough, ME (US)

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Trainer Fails to seek veterinary care for racehorse
Scarborough, ME (US)