Stewards wrap: feeding Knackery meat leads to disciplinary action
TWO Victorian trainers faced the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) on Monday after their greyhounds returned positive swab samples to prohibited substances – both thought to have been a result of their greyhounds being fed knackery meat.
Mark Whelan fronted the RADB charged with a breach of GAR 83 (2)(3) after his racer, Tiger Whelan, returned a urine sample testing positive to Flunixin, an anti-inflammatory drug capable of improving the performance of a greyhound, when it competed in a race at The Meadows on December 9, 2015.
After hearing all of the evidence related to the case, the RADB found Whelan guilty as charged. Upon deciding a penalty, the RADB took into account several factors including Whelan's guilty plea and his lack of past transgressions and subsequently disqualified him for one month, effective May 23, 2016.
Paul Riches was also charged with a breach of GAR 83 (2)(3) after his greyhound, Bryvon, returned a positive sample to Procaine, a pain relief medication which is commonly found in knackery meat, when it raced at Ballarat on December 9, 2015.
Riches pleaded guilty as charged and made the submission that he believed it was too expensive to feed human grade meat to his greyhounds and conceded that he ‘rolled the dice' when feeding knackery meat, however admitted that he would continue to do so as this was his first positive swab offence which he contributed to bad luck.
With a recent increase in the detection of Procaine, the RADB felt it was necessary to send a message which served as a deterrence for trainers who continue to feed their greyhounds knackery meat. Riches was subsequently fined $1,000, of which $500 was suspended for 12 months pending no further breaches of GAR 83 (2) and (3).
Both Tiger Whelan and Bryvon were disqualified from their respective races.
South Australian trainer disqualified for Cobalt positive
South Australian trainer Terrance Cahalan has been disqualified by Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Stewards after he was found guilty of a breach of GAR 83 which relates to prohibited substances.
The specifics of the case were that Cahalan's greyhound, Alderley Reform, returned a urine sample which showed the presence of the prohibited substance Cobalt, in excess of the threshold of 100ng/mL, according to Rule 83(10), when it competed at Angle Park on September 14, 2015.
At an inquiry into the matter, Cahalan pleaded not guilty to the charge, with steward's adjourning the case for consideration before handing down a 15 month disqualification, to commence at midnight on Sunday May 22, 2016.
Acting under GAR 83(4), Stewards also disqualified Alderley Reform from the event in question, a race in which he had finished second.
GRNSW announce penalties for Il Bacaro case
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Stewards handed down a series of penalties last week for those found guilty in relation to the Il Bacaro case which saw the wrong greyhound, namely Asa Killa Queen, compete, and subsequently win, a race in which its kennel mate Il Bacaro was set to contest at Wentworth Park on December 26, 2015.
The penalties are as follows:
– Licensed trainer Anthony Azzopardi was fined $2000 after being found guilty of breaching Rule 86 (o) of the Greyhound Racing Rules for failing to ensure his staff members Robert Stojanov and Norman Sheppard presented the correct greyhound at Wentworth Park on 26 December 2015
– Licensed trainer Robert Stojanov was fined $1500 after being found guilty of breaching Rule 86 (o) for failing to ensure the correct greyhound was presented at Wentworth Park on 26 December 2015
– Licensed trainer Norman Sheppard was issued with a formal reprimand after being found guilty of Rule 86 (o) for failing to ensure the correct greyhound was presented at Wentworth Park on 26 December 2015
– Wentworth Park identification official Andrew Rowe was fined $1500 after being found guilty of Rule 86 (o) for failing to correctly identify the greyhound Asa Killa Queen, which ultimately competed in the place of the greyhound Il Bacaro at Wentworth Park on 26 December 2015
– Wentworth Park identification official Steven Athanassas was fined $1000 after being found guilty of Rule 86 (o) for failing to correctly identify the greyhound Asa Killa Queen, which ultimately competed in the place of the greyhound Il Bacaro at Wentworth Park on 26 December 2015.
GRNSW hand down decision against Glenn Summerfield
GRNSW has announced a penalty against trainer Glen Summerfield, who was recently found guilty of three rule breaches, namely GAR 86 (aj), GAR 86 (o) and GAR 86 (p).
The first charge relates to being in possession of any device or contrivance, while at a race meeting, which is capable of affecting the behaviour or performance of a greyhound in any event.
The second charge was for doing a thing, or omitting to do a thing, which in the opinion of stewards is negligent, while the third charge related to disobeying of failing to comply with the order of a person who has official duties in regards to greyhound racing.
Summerfield, who had pled guilty, was slapped with a $600 fine, with Stewards taking into account that his license had been suspended for 12 weeks prior to the inquiry hearing.