Huge £7.3million cheque withheld from horse trainer amid FBI probe… 18 months after winning world’s richest race

THE winner of the world’s richest horse race is yet to see any of the £7.3million prize money – some 18 months after victory.

Maximum Security gave trainer Jason Servis a massive pay day with his win in the 2020 Saudi Cup.

Servis, who denies the charges, was one of those named in an FBI probe into the alleged doping of racehorses

But the top US trainer was charged with drug offences allegedly uncovered through an FBI investigation shortly after.

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia have paused their own probe into Maximum Security’s win until the legal process in America is complete.

Servis, one of 27 defendants in the case, has pleaded not guilty and is set to appear in court on December 2.

Indictments in federal court in New York allege Servis, along with other trainers and vets, doped racehorses.

According to the charges, Servis, 67, is alleged to have administered performance enhancing drugs to ‘virtually all the racehorses under his control’.

Another trainer named in the charges, Jorge Navarro, admitted his role in a massive doping scandal.

Known as ‘Juice Man’, Navarro has been ordered to repay £18.9m in winnings and he faces five years in jail.

Saudi Cup organisers have withheld the prize money due to Servis amid the ongoing probe.

Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing for the JCSA, said: “We continue to await the outcome of the legal process in America.

“It is unfortunate everyone has to wait this long but we have been unable to continue with our investigation until evidence that we believe may be available there comes into our hands.

“We have taken every opportunity to conclude it as best we can but we now must be a little bit more patient and wait for the American process to conclude.”

The Saudi Cup will be run as a Group 1 contest for the first time next February.

Total prize money for the two-day event, headlined by the Saudi Cup, will increase to £25.7m, making it the richest fixture in the racing calendar.

Maximum Security won the inaugural Saudi Cup but the winner’s cheque has yet to be paid out

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