Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued the following charge against licensed trainer Mr Kane Harris, as the trainer of Mr Grumpy (the Horse) under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2):
Charge: AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting
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(2) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
- On 18 July 2021, the Horse was brought to the Warracknabeal Racecourse and ran in the Moama Bowling Club 0-58 Handicap over 1200 metres (the Race), where the horse finished in first place.
- On 18 July 2021, after the running of the Race, a urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
- An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Dexamethasone.
- Dexamethasone is considered a prohibited substance pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.
The presence of Dexamethasone was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Service Limited and by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid. It is an anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medication. It is registered for use in horses by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The substance is, however, prohibited when detected in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting or trial (including an official trial or a jump-out for the purpose of obtaining a permit to start in a race).
The charge issued against Mr Harris will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.