Hunt greyhound returns positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine

ANOTHER high-profile trainer may be in hot water with stewards: one of Jenny Hunt’s greyhounds has returned a positive swab to the permanently banned prohibited substances amphetamine, methamphetamine and its metabolites.



The greyhound in question, Jubilea Bale, was scratched from Sandown Park on Thursday (February 5) by order of stewards after they were notified by the Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) that Jubilea Bale had returned a positive post-race urine sample to the above substances after winning her heat of the Group 2 Warragul Cup on January 17.

Glen Canty, GRV’s general manager of integrity, racing and welfare, said it was not uncommon for a swab sample to take that long to be tested, regardless of it being for a heat of a Group feature.

“The time-frame can vary for a number of reasons specific to the swab taken but three weeks is not unusual,” he said.



A kennel inspection of Hunt’s property was conducted on Thursday.

Jubilea Bale will be unable to race until she returns a swab sample that is not in breach of the Greyhounds Australasia rules. The results of testing on the reserve and control substances from the Warragul race are not yet known.

“It is important to note that Ms Hunt has the right to have the reserve and control sample testing done in the presence of an independent approved analyst nominated by her,” Canty said. “At the moment we do not have a time-frame, the process is in the hands of RASL.

“The reserve and control samples are yet to be analysed and the investigations pertaining to this particular case are currently proceeding. As such GRV is unable to provide any more information on this matter at this time.”

Jubilea Bale, which has won 14 of 44 starts, with 12 placings, ran fifth in the final of the Warragul Cup on January 23.



Hunt shot to training prominence after taking over the large team of greyhounds formerly trained by her prolific father-in-law Graeme Bate,who is serving a three-year disqualification for five offences relating to prohibited substances.

Victoria-based Hunt is one of the country’s leading mentors, training many of her greyhounds for leviathan owner/breeder Paul Wheeler, including Dyna Villa, arguably the nation’s best sprinter.

Dyna Villa, which has won an incredible $634,990 in prizemoney and is expected to soon become the greatest prizemoney earner in Australian history, runs in Sunday’s Group 2 Shepparton Cup final in which it has drawn box six.

Hunt no doubt faces a nervous wait, with GRV showing little mercy for trainers using prohibited substances in recent times.

“GRV has stated on many occasions that it has a zero-tolerance attitude to the use of drugs in our sport to affect the performance of greyhounds. Nothing has changed,” Canty added.

Topics

Races Shepparton Cup | Warragul Cup
Breeders Paul Wheeler
Regulators Greyhounds Australasia | GRV | Racing Victoria

Past Discussion

  1. At least the big names are being targeted and tested. For too long we saw small time trainers getting banned for using ‘rubs’ and the like that provide as much relief as supermarket brand heat products…I’d love to know which one of Jenny’s staff take the hit as a smack addict that inadvertently affected Jubilea Bale… If an owners has a greyhound win prizemoney and it is lost due to malpractice of a trainer – why wouldn’t they sue them for loss? The plot will thicken soon – all it needs is a ballsy litigant.

  2. At least the big names are being targeted and tested. For too long we saw small time trainers getting banned for using ‘rubs’ and the like that provide as much relief as supermarket brand heat products…I’d love to know which one of Jenny’s staff take the hit as a smack addict that inadvertently affected Jubilea Bale… If an owners has a greyhound win prizemoney and it is lost due to malpractice of a trainer – why wouldn’t they sue them for loss? The plot will thicken soon – all it needs is a ballsy litigant.

  5. One must congratulate the regulating bodies on their strike rate of late taking down these so called “top trainers”. I can’t wait for a true level playing field to be the norm, only then will we really know which dogs have true, natural ability and those that are being artificially inflated. Not only does it affect all parties involved in racing when these cheats are predominant but perhaps more importantly, our bloodlines are compromised with these animals being used as future breeding stocks and the demise of the natural fast chasers.

  6. One must congratulate the regulating bodies on their strike rate of late taking down these so called “top trainers”. I can’t wait for a true level playing field to be the norm, only then will we really know which dogs have true, natural ability and those that are being artificially inflated. Not only does it affect all parties involved in racing when these cheats are predominant but perhaps more importantly, our bloodlines are compromised with these animals being used as future breeding stocks and the demise of the natural fast chasers.

  21. Absolutely disgusted… I’d like to shove some of those substances down their throats instead. So good to see these “great trainers” get caught for their despicable acts. They should be banned from the sport all together..

  22. Absolutely disgusted… I’d like to shove some of those substances down their throats instead. So good to see these “great trainers” get caught for their despicable acts. They should be banned from the sport all together..

  25. Been going since I’ve been following them for 20 yrs . Until they can come with something to fix it always guna be the biggest problem the sport has .Tom daily george daily now andrea trains them

  26. Been going since I’ve been following them for 20 yrs . Until they can come with something to fix it always guna be the biggest problem the sport has .Tom daily george daily now andrea trains them

  27. The penalty s arnt near strong enough to or 3 yrs tops when there kennels make over a million dollors a yr need at least 10 yrs and probably life

  28. The penalty s arnt near strong enough to or 3 yrs tops when there kennels make over a million dollors a yr need at least 10 yrs and probably life

  31. Been going on for as long as I can remember . Thats why as a punter you would no keep backing there dogs when they have a few poor runs the odds go up . And they pop at 16 to 1

  32. Been going on for as long as I can remember . Thats why as a punter you would no keep backing there dogs when they have a few poor runs the odds go up . And they pop at 16 to 1

  37. Maybe these so called big time trainers should start to be charged by the Police…it doesn’t matter if its a greyhound etc they should be held accountable for there actions by giving these lovely creatures a prohibited drug…a animal cannot speak so whom is going to speak for them??? Grv will probably just give them a slap on the wrist…just goes to show what the little trainer had to be put up with, the so called big trainers doping there dogs for what “money”….but what people should think about what is happening with the dog that has been given this drug, i betcha no one has asked that have they???

  38. Maybe these so called big time trainers should start to be charged by the Police…it doesn’t matter if its a greyhound etc they should be held accountable for there actions by giving these lovely creatures a prohibited drug…a animal cannot speak so whom is going to speak for them??? Grv will probably just give them a slap on the wrist…just goes to show what the little trainer had to be put up with, the so called big trainers doping there dogs for what “money”….but what people should think about what is happening with the dog that has been given this drug, i betcha no one has asked that have they???

  43. This poor hound has to come off this shit now just like a human would. This is not only stupid and illegal it’s also very cruel. All that for an edge when you already have good dogs. I think she should be out for life.

  44. This poor hound has to come off this shit now just like a human would. This is not only stupid and illegal it’s also very cruel. All that for an edge when you already have good dogs. I think she should be out for life.

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