RV Stewards' Report - Aaron Peterson

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued charges against licensed trainer Aaron Peterson following an investigation into the circumstances that led to the Mr Peterson trained, Approved Anger, returning a urine sample containing Cobalt in excess of the permitted threshold of 100 micrograms per litre in urine.

The pre-race urine sample was taken from Approved Anger prior the gelding running in the bet365 Protest Promise 0-58 Handicap over 1500 metres at Geelong Racecourse on 26 December 2020, where the horse finished in ninth position.

Racing Analytical Services Limited reported that Cobalt was detected in the sample at a concentration greater than 200 micrograms per litre in urine.  The expanded measurement uncertainty for Cobalt determination at 100 micrograms per litre is 10 micrograms per litre at greater than 99.7% confidence.

The Racing Science Centre reported that Cobalt was detected within the reserve portion of the sample at a concentration of greater than 200 micrograms per litre in urine. The expanded measurement uncertainty for Cobalt determination at 100 micrograms per litre is 6 micrograms per litre at greater than or equal to 99.7% confidence.

Cobalt is a prohibited substance pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Australian Rules of Racing (Prohibited List B), subject to the threshold in Item 11 of Division 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Australian Rules of Racing.

The Stewards have laid three charges against Mr Peterson, under AR 245(1), AR 240(2) (alternative to AR 245(1)) and AR 104 which are summarised below. 

AR 245 Administration of prohibited substance in sample taken from horse before/after running in race

(1) A person must not:
a) administer; or
b) cause to be administered, 
a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B to a horse which is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following the running of a race.
…

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting

…
(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 Stewards allege that Mr Peterson administered or caused to be administered Cobalt to Approved Anger prior to running in the bet365 Protest Promise 0-58 Handicap over 1500 metres at Geelong Racecourse on 26 December 2020, with Cobalt detected at a mass concentration in excess of the threshold (being 100 micrograms per litre in urine) in the sample taken from Approved Anger prior to the running of the race.

AR 104 Trainers must keep treatment records

(1) A trainer must record any medication or treatment administered to any horse in the trainer’s care by midnight on the day on which the administration was given. 
(2) For the purpose of subrule (1), each record of administration must include the following information:
(a) the name of the horse;
(b) the date and time of administration of the treatment or medication;
(c) the name of the treatment or medication administered (brand name or active constituent); 
(d) the route of administration including by injection, stomach tube, paste, topical application or inhalation;
(e) the amount of medication given (if applicable);
(f) the duration of treatment (if applicable);
(g) the name and signature of the person/s administering and/or authorising the administration of the treatment or medication.
…

The Stewards allege that, between 1 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, Mr Peterson failed to record any medication or treatment administered to any horse in his care as required by AR 104(2).  

The charges issued against Mr Peterson will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.

ENDS.