Steward’s wrap: disqualifications handed out across Australia

GREYHOUND Racing New South Wales handed down a four month suspension to NSW trainer Nancy McIntosh last week after she was found guilty of a brach of GAR 83 (2)(a).

The specifics of the charge was her greyhound, My Girl Cass, returned a urine sample which showed the presence of the prohibited substances prednisone, prednisolone and 20beta-dihydroprednisolone after it won at Maitland on June 4, 2015.

My Girl Cass was also disqualified from the event in question, with the placings amended accordingly.

NSW – Hyson and Taylor disqualified

Peter Hyson and Mark Taylor have both been disqualified after the greyhound Fishaholic returned a positive urine sample to the prohibited substance Meloxicam after it won at Tamworth on December 6, 2014.

During the inquiry into the matter it was established Taylor had falsely nominated Fishaholic to race under his name on two separate occasions (Tamworth 6/12/14 and Armidale 13/12/14) while Fishaholic was, in fact, being trained by Peter Hyson.

Evidence was given that, as Hyson only held an owners/trainers licence, he was unable to nominate Fishaholic himself as he had no ownership in the dog.

Hyson pleaded guilty to a charge under GAR 83 (2)(a) in that he presented Fishaholic for the race in a state which was not free of a prohibited substance. A secondary charge under GAR 96 (m) was issued against Hyson in that he conspired with Taylor to commit a breach of the .

Tyson was disqualified for two months for GAR 83 (2)(a) and three months for GAR 86 (m), with both periods to be served cumulatively.

Taylor was charged with two breaches of GAR 86 (d), in that he falsified documents in connection with greyhound racing, and one breach of GAR 86 (m) in that he conspired with Hyson to commit an breach of the rules.

Taylor pleaded guilty to all charges and was disqualified for two periods of three months under GAR 86 (d) and three months for his breach of GAR 86 (d), with the period to be served cumulatively with the period of disqualification under GAR 86 (d).

Fishaholic was also disqualified from winning the event in question, with the placings amended accordingly.

NSW – Cauchi and Morgan inquiries commenced

have officially commenced inquiries under the GRNSW Greyhound Racing Rules as a result of the criminal convictions imposed on John Cauchi and for serious animal cruelty offences.

Both participants were caught up in last year's scandal, with hidden camera footage showing the men using live animals to train their greyhounds.

Cauchi, the licensed manager of the Bexhill Trial track in Western Sydney was caught using a live rabbit tied to a piece of rope to excite a greyhound, while Morgan was captured using a live possum attached to a lure to blood two of his greyhounds at the property of Zeke Nadir.

Both trainers have remained suspended while the inquiries are undertaken, with the purpose being to investigate whether Cauchi and Morgan have breached GAR 86B (1)(g), 95 (8)(a) and GAR 15 (3).

VIC – Gibbins disqualified

Michael Gibbins faced the Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) last Tuesday charged with a breach of GAR 83 (2)93) in that he failed to present his greyhound Maximum Maddy free of any prohibited substance at the meeting on September 3, 2015.

The specifics of the charge was a post-race urine sample taken from Maximum Maddy, which was found by the Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (RASL) to contain the prohibited substance Atenolol.

Gibbons pleaded guilty as charged and was subsequently disqualified for four months, two of which were suspended for 12 months pending no further breaches of GAR 83 during that period, with the penalty effective from Thursday January 21, 2016.

Maximum Maddy was also disqualified from the event in question, as well as the resulting final, with placings for both races amended accordingly.

VIC – Campbell appeals disqualification

Margaret Campbell has been disqualified for a period of six months, three of which were suspended for 12 months pending no further breaches, after she was found guilty of a breach of GAR 83(2)(3).

The details of the charge was Campbell's greyhound Explosive Sky returned a pre-race urine sample which showed the presence of the prohibited substance Heptaminol at Healesville on September 27, 2015.

Additionally, Explosive Sky was also disqualified from the event in question.

Campbell took the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal following the decision and has been awarded a stay of proceedings until her appeal date on May 2, 2016.

VIC – David Dawson appeals verdict

Trainer David Dawson has also been granted a stay of proceedings pending the determination of an appeal after he was found guilty of a break of GAR 86 (q), a rule which relates to , on January 12, 2016, and subsequently disqualified for a period of 12 months.

The conditions of his stay of proceedings included that his Appeal will be heard together with two other charges he is facing in relation to breaches of GAR 86 (o) and GAR 86 (ah), on Friday February 12, 2016.

VIC – Lori Courts fined and suspended

Lori Courts went in front of the RADB last week after she was charged with a breach of GAR 86(o), one which relates to misconduct.

It was alleged that Courts made inappropriate contact and threatened Ms. Maddison Toner in the wash bay area following the second event at on November 6, 2015.

Courts pleaded not guilty but was ultimately found guilty as charged and was slapped with a three month suspension, wholly suspended for 12 months, as well as a $500 fine, $250 of which was suspended for one year provided no similar rule breaches during that time.

QLD – Disqualification for failing to provide veterinary care

Racing Queensland recently concluded an inquiry originally adjourned from December 1, 2015, into the care provided to the greyhound Tizz Any Good, which last raced in September 2012, whilst under the care of licensed trainer Natasha Ogden.

RQ had been advised by Ms Gaynor Lowe that the greyhound was in poor condition when she took possession of it, with a subsequent veterinary examination revealing Tizz Any Good to be underweight and with full skin depth sores which were consistent with pressure sores on its left and right shoulder blades.

After considering all evidence, RQ charged Ogden with a breach of GAR 106 (1)(a) and (d) in that she failed to seek veterinary care for the greyhound when it developed pressure sores.

Ogden pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was subsequently found guilty and disqualified for a period of three months.

SA – Positive swab results in disqualification for Weis

SA trainer Brian Weis faced Greyhound Racing SA Stewards earlier this month after his greyhound, Banger Regis, returned a urine sample which showed the presence of the prohibited substance when it won at Mount Gambier on October 4, 2015.

Wei pleaded guilty to a charge under GAR 83 in that he presented the greyhound in a state which was not free of a prohibited substance.

Weis was subsequently disqualified for a period of three months and fined a sum of $500, with Banger Regis also disqualified from the event in question.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dezzey
Dezzey
8 years ago

It still beggars belief that you only get a few months for drug offences. Make it years and it won’t be worth the risk.

Dezzey
Dezzey
8 years ago

It still beggars belief that you only get a few months for drug offences. Make it years and it won’t be worth the risk.