NYRA Issues Hearing Notice Charging Trainer Kevin Bond Over Hateful Posts, Abuse

The New York Racing Association has issued a notice of hearing and a formal statement of charges against trainer Kevin Bond, alleging "hateful social‑media posts" and "multiple instances of abusive conduct on the backstretch," and NYRA’s filing "outlines three charges including breach of the stall app." The action was filed in connection with NYRA procedures and was reported following events dated February 13, 2026.

NYRA’s filing names three counts but identifies only one charge by phrase: "breach of the stall app." The formal statement of charges itself has not been released in full in the materials supplied; no text beyond the three high‑level categories was provided, and NYRA did not provide a hearing date, filing date, or detailed factual allegations in the documentation available to this reporter.

Specifics missing from the available filing include the exact social‑media posts cited (platforms, account names, timestamps), the dates and locations of the "multiple instances of abusive conduct on the backstretch," and any witness statements or exhibits. The record supplied also contains no explanation of what "breach of the stall app" means operationally, whether that refers to attendance, veterinary logs, stall assignments, or another feature of NYRA’s stall app system.

The PaulickReport called the situation "fascinating for many reasons," a characterization included in the supplied notes but without its full analysis. That commentary underscores the unusual mix of allegations: reputational claims tied to social‑media content, allegations of workplace abuse on the backstretch, and an apparent technology‑related compliance count tied to the stall app. None of the supplied materials set out potential penalties, and there is no record in the provided notes of prior disciplinary history for Kevin Bond.

Practical next steps identified in the filing and reporting include obtaining the full notice of hearing and the formal statement of charges, examining any exhibits NYRA may cite (such as social‑media screenshots or stall app logs), and securing comment from Kevin Bond or his legal representative. The supplied materials do not include responses from Bond, NYRA spokespeople, backstretch workers, or regulatory authorities; those responses will be central as NYRA’s process moves forward.

The charges as framed, hateful social‑media posts, abusive conduct on the backstretch, and "breach of the stall app", raise immediate policy questions for racing operations about enforcement of social‑media standards, protection of backstretch employees, and how technology like a stall app is used in compliance and discipline. NYRA’s notice of hearing initiates a formal proceeding; until the full statement of charges and evidence are made public and Bond has an opportunity to respond, the allegations detailed in NYRA’s filing remain claims subject to adjudication.