In October 2023, the Ohio State Racing Commission reviewed a video of harness racing groom Brevin Lupton and found that he had been cruel to a horse. Officials fined him $1,000 and suspended him for 365 days. The United States Trotting Association (USTA), the group that governs harness racing, went further and ruled him ineligible for a license or membership. The USTA said his “continued participation in harness racing is not consistent with the best interest of the sport,” according to its ruling as reported by Horseracingwrongs.org.

Now Ohio is letting him back. Under a settlement with the Commission, Lupton was fined $500 and given a probationary grooms license for the rest of 2026. Grooms work hands-on with horses every day, feeding, bathing, handling and caring for them.

That is a step backward. A cruelty finding backed by video evidence should carry real weight. Handing back daily access to horses after a smaller fine sends the message that abusing a horse in Ohio racing comes with a small price. It also cuts against the USTA’s own finding that he was not fit to take part in the sport.

Horses in Ohio barns cannot speak up for themselves. The people who care about them can, from racing fans, owners and trainers to animal lovers who have never set foot at a track.

The Ohio State Racing Commission has the power to revoke this license. It should do so and make clear that anyone found to have been cruel to a horse will not be handed the job of caring for horses again.

Sign the petition to tell the Ohio State Racing Commission to revoke Brevin Lupton’s license and keep horses in Ohio racing safe from abuse.