Horse trainer Chad Brown facing charge for choking, pushing a woman in New York

Trainer Chad Brown, whose Zandon finished third in this year’s Kentucky Derby, was charged with obstruction of breathing, a misdemeanor, after an incident in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Wednesday night.

The Times Union of Albany (N.Y.) reported Brown spent the night in the city jail and was “expected to be released from custody after posting bail.” The newspaper reported Brown pleaded not guilty.

According to Assistant District Attorney Kayla Potter, Brown “pushed a woman down a flight of stairs at his home, pinned her to the floor and tried to choke her before throwing her out of the house.”

The New York state penal code defines criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation "as applying pressure on the throat or neck of an individual with the intent to impede the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person, or blocking the nose or mouth of such person with the same intent." A Class A misdemeanor conviction in New York carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail or three years of probation.

Brown has been a regular on the Kentucky Derby trail since entering his first horse in 2013, finishing fourth with Normandy Invasion. His top finisher came with Good Magic, who was the runner-up to eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

Brown won four straight Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer from 2016-19. According to Equibase.com, Brown ranks No. 1 among North American trainers this year with $19.8 million in earnings and fourth in victories with 168.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby horse trainer Chad Brown charged with misdemeanor