A week in the steward’s room: Another QLD trainer warned-off

QUEENSLAND trainer Michael Chapman has been banned for life following an inquiry by Racing Queensland into his alleged engagement into .

The Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board decided to ban Chapman, whose case had previously been adjourned on March 3, for life effective immediately after considering further evidence presented to it. He is the sixth participant to have been banned due to animal cruelty offences following on from the live-baiting scandal.

Another Queensland trainer, , had his case referred back to Stewards by the Industry Board, however, they were unable to find sufficient evidence to charge him with improper training practices in regards to animal cruelty.

Stella's inquiry was closed by Stewards, however he did plead guilty to trialing greyhounds under his control at an unregistered track in Churchable. Stewards deemed that an appropriate penalty was to suspend his licence for a month, backdated to commence on February 17, 2015, the day he was initially stood down under suspicion of live-baiting.

Stella was informed by stewards that his inquiry would re-open if they received any further evidence in regards to his involvement in live-baiting.

RQ Stewards also informed participants on that the moratorium placed on the transfer of greyhounds within the state has now been lifted, meaning that RQ will resume processing sales and kennel transfers with all registrations to be addressed as soon as possible.

It was also confirmed that greyhounds that have been in the care of a disqualified or banned person or found to be connected with live-baiting in any way will now be subject to a return to race policy, requiring them to participate in three stewards' trials under race conditions and any other conditions imposed by stewards. The current trainers of these greyhounds must register them for three trials with stewards at designated venues before they are allowed to resume racing.

IN VICTORIA, the Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board (RADB) held a hearing into trainer Terry Moore on Monday, March 16 after a pre-race urine sample taken from his greyhound ā€œBomber Attackā€ at on November 12, 2014 was found to contain the prohibited substance Salbutamol.

Moore did not appear at the hearing and did not respond to attempts to contact him. He was subsequently found guilty as charged and fined $5,000 and disqualified for seven years to commence from the expiration of his current disqualification on December 18, 2017. ā€œBomber Attackā€ was also disqualified from its event at Ballarat with the placings amended.

Michelle Mallia-Magri has been disqualified by the RADB for a period of four months and fined $2,000 for failing to present her greyhound ā€œSee Him Nextā€ free of a prohibited substance for an event at Ballarat on November 5, 2014. Mallia-Magri pleaded guilty to the charge after the post-race urine sample obtained from the greyhound indicated the presence of the prohibited substance 4- Hydroxy Xylazine.

On the same day, trainer Kenneth Height also appeared in front of the RABD after he was charged with failing to present his greyhound ā€œThunderlipsā€ free of a prohibited substance at Cranbourne on November 12, 2014. A pre-race urine sample taken from the greyhound was found to contain the substance Sotalol, with Height pleading guilty to the charge. The RADB found him guilty of the offence and suspended him for three months, commencing March 17, 2015. ā€œThunderlipsā€ was also disqualified from the event which it contested and the placings were amended.

IN NSW, has advised that they will be commencing inquiries into five separate greyhounds after it received notification from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that their samples have been found to contain the presence of a prohibited substance(s):

  • Trainer Brad Field has been informed that his greyhound ā€œLika Jay Jayā€ returned a positive swab to 5beta-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol after winning at Wentworth Park on January 12, 2015. The presence of the substance has been confirmed by the Racing Science Centre, Queensland.
  • Trainer has been advised of an irregularity found in a sample take from ā€œOpus Forteā€ after it won at Wentworth Park on January 16, 2015. The sample was found to contain the presence of and Ketoprofen, with the reserve portion having now been forwarded to another accredited laboratory for confirmatory analysis. Upon confirmation, the issue will continue in accordance with the protocols established under GRNSW's penalty guideline system.
  • Troy Donaldson has been told that the presence Boldenone and Androsta-1, 4-diene-3, 17-dione was found in a urine sample taken from his greyhound ā€œNinja Turtleā€ after it won at The Gardens on January 24, 2015. The reserve sample has been sent to another accredited laboratory for further confirmatory analysis. If confirmed to contain the prohibited substance, an inquiry will be held at a date to be fixed.
  • Joanne Willis has been advised that a sample taken from her greyhound ā€œPlatnium Magicā€ was found to contain the prohibited substance O-desmethylvenlafaxine after it won at Kempsey on January 31, 2015. The sample has been forwarded to another laboratory for confirmation, at which point the matter will proceed following GRNSW's penalty guideline system.
  • A urine sample taken from ā€œDeb's Dreamā€ has also been analysed with trainer John Cini informed that it was found to contain the substances 5beta-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol, Boldenone, androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol and . The presence has been confirmed by the Racing Science Centre, Queensland, with an inquiry to be held at a date to be announced.

IN TASMANIA, Racing Services Tasmanian Stewards have completed an inquiry into a urine sample taken from the greyhound ā€œShadow Hammerā€ at on December 15, 2014, which was analysed by the Racing Analytical Services and found to contain presence of the drug Heptaminol. Tharle pleaded guilty to an offence of failing to present a greyhound free of any prohibited substance and was subsequently found guilty and disqualified for a period of fourth months commenting March 17, 2015. ā€œShadow Hammerā€ was also disqualified from its race with the placings amended accordingly.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
8 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Rolland Parry
Rolland Parry
9 years ago

Won’t any trainers left soon some positive swabs in nsw and vic as well live baiting

Rolland Parry
Rolland Parry
9 years ago

Or lot of name changes spouses or friends No penalty really

Lee Elgood
Lee Elgood
9 years ago

Craig Rich

Recluse 60
Recluse 60
9 years ago

Doping in NSW, Vic and live baiting in Qld, hasn’t the industry learnt anything from the past 4 weeks or are they just thick? Jenny Hunt is still allowed to race her dogs while we wait to see if her dogs second sample is analysed for ice, she should not be allowed to race any dogs until this has been cleared up. Reading on another forum they still think that twilight racing is ok? what don’t they get racing dogs in 35 degrees plus of heat is notĀ ok, not forgetting they have to travel over an hour to get to… Read more »

Rolland Parry
Rolland Parry
9 years ago

Won’t any trainers left soon some positive swabs in nsw and vic as well live baiting

Rolland Parry
Rolland Parry
9 years ago

Or lot of name changes spouses or friends No penalty really

Lee Elgood
Lee Elgood
9 years ago

Craig Rich

Recluse 60
Recluse 60
9 years ago

Doping in NSW, Vic and live baiting in Qld, hasn’t the industry learnt anything from the past 4 weeks or are they just thick? Jenny Hunt is still allowed to race her dogs while we wait to see if her dogs second sample is analysed for ice, she should not be allowed to race any dogs until this has been cleared up. Reading on another forum they still think that twilight racing is ok? what don’t they get racing dogs in 35 degrees plus of heat is notĀ ok, not forgetting they have to travel over an hour to get to… Read more »