The New York Racing Association on Friday announced it had reached a settlement agreement with the trainer Marcus Vitali, who it was seeking to exclude from racing or stabling at its grounds, though as part of the agreement the details of the settlement would not be made public. Sources indicate, however, that Vitali would not be permitted to race or stable at NYRA tracks - Aqueduct, Belmont, or Saratoga - for multiple years. In a statement released Friday, NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said NYRA and Vitali “have reached a settlement agreement resolving and discontinuing the administrative proceeding brought against Mr. Vitali on Sept. 10, 2021, which sought his exclusion from participating in racing or training activities at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Racecourse. The agreement requires the terms of the settlement to remain confidential.” NYRA officials declined further comment. Vitali said he was unaware a settlement agreement had been reached.  Bradford Beilly, Vitali’s attorney, was not immediately available for comment. :: Get up to 50% off on DRF's premium products, including Past Performances, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, Picks, the Digital Paper, and DRF Plus Pro! The announcement of this agreement comes eight days after NYRA announced it was banning the Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from participating at its tracks for one year - a penalty reduced to Jan. 25 2023 - for violations the association deemed detrimental to the best interest of racing. Baffert underwent a week-long hearing in January after which a hearing officer filed a recommendation for a penalty that was less than the two-year ban NYRA had originally sought. Friday’s agreement avoids Vitali having to face a similar hearing. One had been scheduled for April 4. That hearing was adjourned and rescheduled for May, but was never held while negotiations for this settlement were ongoing. Last September, in a “statement of charges” issued to Vitali, NYRA charged Vitali engaged in “conduct that was detrimental to the best interest of Thoroughbred racing” and Vitali’s actions were “detrimental to NYRA’s business operations.” NYRA alleged that from between 2010-2020, Vitali “amassed an extensive record of medication violations, lengthy suspensions” and used “program” or “paper” trainers during suspensions as well as obstructed an investigation into alleged wrongdoing. NYRA noted that in the past five years, Vitali was denied entry, ejected and/or had license applications denied by regulators in Florida, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Delaware. Further, NYRA noted Vitali was sanctioned by the Jockey Club for violating a racing statute, rule, or regulation related to prohibited or restricted drugs, medications, or substances seven times in a single year. Vitali has participated infrequently at NYRA, making just 68, or 1.1-percent, of his 5,821 career starts at a NYRA track. His last starter at NYRA came last July 22 when Red Venus finished last in a $35,000 claiming race at Saratoga. Vitali has run 22 horses at Saratoga in his career. He has started 37 horses at Belmont Park, none since May 2017, and has run nine horses at Aqueduct, just one in the last 13 years. :: Get ready for Saratoga and Del Mar with a Quarterly subscription to DRF Past Performances Any ban issued by NYRA against Vitali does not have to be honored by other jurisdictions. For example, Vitali ran seven horses at Finger Lakes last September. Vitali has a valid license from the New York State Gaming Commission that is up for renewal on Aug. 7. According to Equibase, Vitali has 12 wins from 60 starters in 2022. He has run horses this year at Turf Paradise in Arizona and, currently, at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, where he has three wins from 14 starters. Vitali said he has 10 horses in training. Vitali has won 917 races in his career. His best horses were Lochte, a six-time stakes winner who won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in 2014, and Valid, a seven-time stakes winner who captured the Grade 3 Iselin at Monmouth Park and Grade 3 Skip Away at Gulfstream Park. Since levying charges against Baffert and Vitali in 2021, NYRA has banned several trainers - most notably Wayne Potts and Juan Vazquez - from stabling horses on its grounds, but it has not barred those trainers - a list that includes Bonnie Lucas, Marvin Richards, Michael Simmonds, John McAllen, and Luis Miranda - from running horses at its tracks. NYRA has not issued a statement of charges against any of those trainers seeking to exclude them from racing at its tracks.