Stewards wrap: Andy Lord and Craig Moffitt banned
JEFFREY Chapman has been suspended by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) stewards after being found guilty of a breach of the prohibited substances rule.
Chapman entered an early guilty plea to a breach of GAR 83(2) after his greyhound Zlaton returned a positive urine sample to the prohibited substance cobalt when competing at Grafton on June 27, 2016.
Upon considering the evidence, including Chapman's contribution to the industry through his involvement with the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club, stewards determined to impose an eight-week disqualification.
Zlaton was also disqualified from the event in question.
Lord and Moffitt cop lengthy bans
ANDY Lord and Craig Moffitt have been disqualified from any involvement within the greyhound racing industry following the completion of a recent GRNSW inquiry.
The inquiry was in relation to the greyhound Myrniong Fancy which returned a positive urine sample to amphetamine and its metabolite 4-hydroxamphetamine when competing at Goulburn on December 15, 2015.
Throughout the inquiry it was established that Lord was the registered trainer of the greyhound, however the dog had been under the care of Moffitt during its transportation to the track until it was returned to its kennel, with this period including whilst the greyhound was at the event.
Moffitt made submissions that the presence of the prohibited substance in the urine sample was likely the result of contamination due to his activities and/or conduct during the transportation of the greyhound to the race in question.
Moffitt was charged with breaches of GAR 83(2) and GAR 86(o) – to which he entered an early guilty plea.
Upon considering the circumstances, stewards disqualified Moffitt for five years to commence immediately.
Despite being not present whilst the greyhound was taken to the track, Lord was charged with a breach of GAR 83(2).
Lord entered an early guilty plea. Upon considering the circumstances, including his responsibility for the greyhound as its registered trainer, stewards imposed a one-year disqualification.
Stewards altered the penalty to permit Lord to remain on his current property providing that he does not engage in the activity of training greyhounds.
Morley suspended
GRNSW recently finalised an inquiry into trainer Rodney Morley after he was charged with a breach of GAR 83(2). Morley was charged after his greyhound Bambi On Ice returned a positive urine sample to caffeine and its metabolites theophylline, paraxthine and theobromine when competing at Wentworth Park on November 19, 2016.
Morley entered an early guilty plea by letter, with stewards considering the circumstances including his clean record in relation to positive swabs and his extensive volunteer work and acting on the board of the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club.
Stewards determined to impose a suspension of 14-weeks.
Brodie suspended
DAVID Brodie has been suspended by GRNSW after his greyhound Fullpelt Rosie returned a positive urine sample to cobalt when competing at Grafton on December 12, 2016.
Brodie was charged with a breach of GAR 83(2) and was suspended for 10 weeks.
Trainer suspended pending inquiry
JOHN Howson has been issued with an interim suspension after his greyhound Lover's Loch returned a positive urine sample to amphetamine when competing at Gosford on December 27, 2016.
Barron disqualified
STUART Barron has been found guilty of a breach of the prohibited substance rule at a recent GRNSW stewards' inquiry.
Barron was charged with a breach of GAR 83(2) after his greyhound Starburst Bill returned a positive urine sample to 6alpha-hydroxystanozolol as a result of the administration of stanozolol when competing at Richmond on January 6, 2016.
Despite pleading not guilty, stewards found Barron guilty as charged and sentenced him to six-months disqualification.
Ashworth disqualified
COWWARR trainer Rodney Ashworth recently faced the Victorian Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) charged with a breach of GAR 83(2)(3).
Ashworth was slapped with the charge after his greyhound Caiden Marlo returned a positive urine sample to the prohibited substance 6alpha-hydroxystanoxolol, an anabolic steroid, when competing at the Warragul greyhound meeting on June 23, 2016.
Ashworth pleaded guilty to the charge, giving evidence that the swab occurred due to a security breach at his kennels in January or February 2016. According to Ashworth, his neighbour saw a silver four-wheel drive at his property from which men exited and entered his kennels.
Upon considering the circumstances of the case, stewards imposed a 12-months disqualification, with three months of that period suspended pending no further breaches of GAR 83 within the next two years.
Beamish cops long disqualification
PROMINENT WA trainer Michelle Beamish has been issued a three-year disqualification after being found guilty of a breach of the misconduct rule, GAR 86(o).
The particulars of the charge were that on November 25, 2016, Beamish surrendered the greyhound Viserion to the Murdoch Veterinary Hospital where it was humanely euthanised.
It was established throughout the inquiry that Beamish had done so without obtaining the consent of the greyhound's owner.
Beamish pleaded guilty as charged.
Peters fined
THE Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) recently concluded an inquiry in relation to the greyhound Frosty Vane which regurgitated tablets whilst it was kennelled following its race at Ipswich on October 11, 2016.
The dog's trainer, Nicole Peters, admitted to giving the greyhound Rapidvite Rapid-K slow-release potassium chloride tablets on race day.
Peters was charged with a breach of GAR 83A which prevents any treatment to a greyhound on race day.
Peters pleaded guilty and was fined $300.
Connell fined
NICOLE Connell recently fronted the QRIC charged with a breach of the prohibited substance rule. The charge was in relation to the greyhound Zabdon Chevy which returned a positive urine sample to the prohibited substance Levamisole when competing at Ipswich on December 23, 2016.
Connell pleaded guilty as charged and was fined $1,500.
Joanne Martin fined
Also given a fine for a breach of the prohibited substance rule by the QRIC was Joanne Martin after her greyhound Kamilaroi Duk returned a positive sample to Levamisole when competing at Albion Park on December 14, 2016.
Martin pleaded guilty and was fined $2,500.
Jessup disqualified
BRODIE Jessup has been disqualified by Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) stewards after being found guilty of a breach of GAR 83(2).
The charge related to the greyhound Asa Flying Spur which returned a positive urine sample to Desmethylvenlafaxine when competing at Angle Park on December 15, 2016.
Jessup pleaded guilty to the charge and was disqualified for three months which commenced on March 30, 2017.
Lance Simpson fined
GRSA have fined an owner-trainer in relation to a Facebook post made on February 22, 2017.
Lance Simpson was charged with a breach of GAR 86(f)(ii) to which he pleaded guilty.
He was subsequently fined $200.
Trainers face inquiry over dog switch
GRSA have finalised an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the greyhounds Norse Bale and Zeke Bale, which were trained by Wendy Matcott, which competed at Angle Park on February 28, 2017, wearing the incorrect rugs.
The greyhound placed first and second but were subsequently disqualified after the race.
Evidence was taken from multiple sources including Wendy Matcott, Elly Matcott and GRSA Official Debbie Oliver.
Wendy Matcott, Elly Matcott and Debbie Oliver were all charged with a breach of GAR 86(o) which relates to negligent, dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent or improper behavior.
Wendy Mattcott pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000, with $1,000 suspended for 24 months on the condition that she does not re-offend under that rule.
Elly Matcott pleaded guilty and was fined $300, wholly suspended for 24 months on the condition that she does not re-offend under that rule.
Oliver pleaded guilty to the charge and was stood down for four weeks, with three weeks of that penalty suspended for 24 months on the condition that she does not re-offend under that rule.
Oliver was also immediately placed on reduce duties and counselled in relation to her work.
Trainers fined for verbal misconduct
Two trainers have been fined by GRSA after being found guilty of a breach of the misconduct rule in relation to a verbal confrontation at the Gawler meeting on March 7, 2017.
Scott Feltus and Rebecca Mcauley-Fry were fined $250 each, whilst Feltus had a previous amount of $400 suspended for an offence under the rule which was also activated.