Name Mark Gerard | ||
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Mark Gerard (6 October 1934 – 21 June 2011) was an American equine veterinarian. Gerard was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Cornell University. As a student he worked as an exercise rider for, among others, Hall of Fame trainer James E. Fitzsimmons.
Gerard started practice as a veterinarian for race horses, some highly successful ones, such as Canonero II, who won the Kentucky Derby. In 1977, Gerard was involved in a much-publicised scandal involving horse switching. Gerard had imported two horses from Uruguay, a champion named Cinzano and the much cheaper Lebon. After Lebon had under-performed in his earlier races, Gerard ran Cinzano in its name. Cinzano subsequently won as a 57-1 ousider at New York's Belmont Park, and Gerard collected a $77,920 winning on a bet.
Later, a Uruguayan journalist recognized the horse as Cinzano from a picture, and an investigation was started. Gerard was sentenced to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.