Disqualified Linda Britton takes out WA’s leading trainer award
LEADING greyhound identities in Western Australia have defended the decision to crown disqualified Linda Britton the state's no.1 trainer.
Britton, who was not allowed to attend the function on Sunday night, continued her stranglehold on the mantle as WA's leading trainer despite being disqualified for 18 months by Racing and Wagering Western Australia on January 18.
Britton was sidelined from the training ranks after her star greyhound Zelemar Fever was found to have a prohibited substance in urine samples taken after she won the WA Sprint Championship and then placed third in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship last August.
While Zelemar Fever was disqualified from both events, Britton still managed to train 299 winners from 1,285 starters throughout 2014, a feat which saw her claim the title of leading trainer.
RWWA's Manager of Greyhound Racing, Mark Bottcher, told Australian Racing Greyhound that they never questioned Britton's eligibility for the award despite the fact that she is now a disqualified person.
“No, not really especially given that the award was for the 2014 calendar year based on the number of winners she trained across the three tracks, obviously Linda was not disqualified until this year,” Bottcher said.
“We didn't feel it was appropriate to take that award off her because it was something she has achieved by training all throughout that year while she was a licensed person.
“As far as that award is concerned we don't really have any criteria in there that we wouldn't award it to someone that became disqualified at some point.”
Britton has won the Leading Trainer Award every year since it's inception – she also won the Cannington Trainers' title for a record 16th time in 2014 while she took out the Mandurah Trainers' title for the seventh time.
Britton was unable to accept the award on the night that saw her two of her former chasers, Zelemar Fever and Star Recall, fight it out to be named greyhound of the year, with the latter ultimately victorious.
“Because she is disqualified and it was a RWWA official function she couldn't be there, so she couldn't accept that award or the accolades of having two greyhound of the year contenders including the greyhound of the year winner,” Bottcher said.
“I was at the evening and the response was quite good, there was a reasonable amount of cheering in the audience when her name was mentioned. Obviously she had some kennel staff and people connected to her which were there, there wasn't much negativity.”
Australian Racing Greyhound attempted to contact some of WA's other leading trainers to get their thoughts on Britton taking out the award. While several declined to comment, John Iwanyk said the legendary Britton deserved to be named WA's leading trainer despite the ban.
“I think she won it fair and square, I don't think it should be taken off her,” Iwanyk said. “She had two positive swabs but that doesn't paint the picture of her full year, her dogs would have been swabbed hundreds of time. I am fully behind her, I think she deserved to win it.”
RWWA Chief Steward Carlos Martins told Australian Racing Greyhound on Tuesday that Britton has lodged an appeal against her disqualification with a date for the hearing yet to be decided.
Until then, she will remain unable to train greyhounds with all prohibitions placed upon her applicable.
Britton failed to return Australian Racing Greyhound's calls, but previously said she does not want to comment on her disqualification until all avenues of appeal had been exhausted.
When contacted just after her disqualification was announced, Britton mentioned she was thankful for the support shown by her family and friends during this arduous period.
Raising the intelligence stakes of racing enthusiasts are we?
Yea heaven forbid the public see the lack of core integrity on dog racing.
Well said John, I totally agree with you.
Actually your slightly wrong there if a jockey is “suspended” ie for bad riding or over used the whip etc he can still win BUT if a jockey is “disqualified” ie warned off for any period of time he loses all rights to it… It’s all a stupid grey area exactly like wot Linda is caught in there is no consistency and an innocent mistake causes this…
Congrats linda u deserve it and tge whole team behind the seens
Whether you agree or disagree just let linda get on with her life and stop talking about it
No what joke a drug cheat
Does trainer of the year simply go to the least shady trainer or the one who comes up with the most brazen lies to explain the shadiness?
how can you say she deserves it when she has been suspended for drugging her dogs FFS
Omg if she deserves it then let her have it. Stop ruining what we the punters enjoy the sport of it all. I’m sure other shit goes on that is not caught out. It sounds as if people are jelous or envious of this lady.
I agree with you Linda
Reading through some these comments its very disappointing to see the unnecessary use of appalling language. There are thousands of words in the English language to express your feelings and I suggest you use your intelligence (if you have some) and use them. Try using the English Oxford Dictionary or a Thesaurus to find alternative words.
Congrats Linda you deserve it , pleasure to of met u lovely lady
Aren’t hormone drugs to control females seasons banned by the racing industry?? So perhaps this is one reason why the trainer Linda Brittain has been disqualified or banned from training.
Why are these drugs used anyway? Sterilising dogs can still run fast!!
Indeed a wonderful industry that destroys thousands of healthy dogs each year because they are beyond their usefulness, I you must be so proud of how wasteful this wonderful industry is with living defenceless animals.
Excactly, very professional criminals.
if linda deserves her award why not lance armstrong or even ben johnstone. seems to me the greyhound industry all know what is really going on. you have all dug your own grave.
This is such a wonderful industry greyhound racing , but its not like aussie rules when u get rubbed out u get nothing because its called best & fairest so what can we call it in greyhound racing best & cheaters it does not sound to good anyway if WA greyhound racing see fit to give the title to Linda so be it
If a jockey gets disqualified And they are ahead in the premiership they still win the premiership if they are ahead at the end of the season . So the winner is l Britton . So to the small minded muckrakers who try to make this an issue , spit the sour grapes out of your big mouth. And shut it .and yes linda is a great trainer and those who know how hard linda, Chris and her staff work know that training winners is not luck or drugs its hard work and dedication to an animal they love
Linda is a great trainer and deserves this award. The Britton camp in perth all work extremely hard regardless of what the small minded say!
Is there precedences in other states ? I dont have a strong opinion one way or another ..
They give a drug cheater the leading trainer. Good image!
Well done linda you so deserve it!!!Everyone needs to look at the overall not just one incident !!!You’ve proven yourself and how much you deserve this!!Well done behind you 110% \U0001f603\U0001f603
So hoping cobber does it for you next weekend!!!
Harsh Nathan .. Linda is a beautiful and wonderful person who only puts her dogs first… Things aren’t as they seem so don’t judge unless your perfect!!!
A beautiful and wonderful person doesn’t stop her from being a cheat. If she put her dogs first would she pump them with drugs?
Alex go stick your head up your ass!!
R U Mad honey?
I think it’s a bit of sour grapes on Nathan’s part he obviously doesn’t know Linda personally & wouldn’t have intentionally done anything wrong. Greyhounds are her life & does put her dogs first.
Not at all Alex HONEY her dogs still winning!!!!
Alex I think u are tosser coz Linda is the best
Whatever the case nice woman or not she is currently disqualified she should not be able to win any award at the minute
Absolutely I agree with RWWA’s decision!!!Linda Britton has worked so hard and really deserves this!!!
your a fuckin cocksucker nathan, you don’t know shit cunt! don’t comment about someone you don’t evan know or on a topic your small narrow mind clearly doesn’t know shit about!
Nathan you do not know what you are talking about, Linda was found guilty of presenting Zelma Fever for racing with a banned substance in her system, not administering Go Fast Drugs to her.
Omg seriously do some people think they have to right to just say anything on fb!!! The “drug” Linda got done for is hormone used to stop bitches coming into season. The vast majority of trainers use some kind of “drug” for this reason. She isn’t the only trainer to go on it quite a few have. One trainer in nsw had 3 and only got a fine so a bit harsh I think. To label Linda a drug cheat after a positive for the first time in over 20 years is very unfair. No trainer has done more good… Read more »
Well said Alex
Chris it would be nice if you could actually spell. So drugs are ok then Kathleen?
Poor Nathan is from crapalaide have pity on him!!!
Nathan the “drug” was hormone not a drug that will make a dog run fast. It’s to keep bitches off season. Anyone would think she went for illicit drugs or something. This is a positive alot of trainers have had and a number of high profile ones and have only gotten fines. I seriously hope none of you slandering Linda never have a positive as a trainer and have to deal with the crap Linda is. Be in greyhounds long enough and likely hood is you will have a positive to something.
How about you learn the facts nathan and not worry about peoples spelling you dumb fuck. Get of your keyboard and go do somthing with your life instead of judging people on things you know little to nothing about.
Totally agree with Tim these people have too much time on there hands and really dnt know what they are talking about
Congratulations to you too Emily & see you on Saturday for the biggies!!! Go Peta & Cobber!!! \U0001f603
If you or any of Linda’s critics took the time to use the half a brain that you may have, and had any knowledge of the love and excellent care and honest training that Linda and her wonderful staff give to the dogs in her kennels, you would not be so judgemental, furthermore you would not be able to get your dogs into her care quick enough. So unless you were present when some jealous unknown random vindictive person administer the drug which is used to keep bitches off season to Zelmar Fever, and you can testify to that, so… Read more »
Thanx and I hope ur right Marlene how good would it be to win both them
Mistakes happen alot of trainers are getting positives with this hormone linda deserves to keep award her penalty seems harsh to me
well said, theres so many idiots! so quick to judge and clueless!!
I agree Linda well deserves the award. Linda and her team love their dogs, work hard and put in the effort this is why she won the award.
Haha. Joke. Fucktards claiming she did sweet fuck all….18 months….they did not hand that down for her love of the dog it was because she drugged them…fuck me. Grow up, she may hug them in public but obviously drugs them privately. Ban her. For life.
So please tell me that the law is wrong and then maybe i will believe you.