RV Stewards' Reports - Jim Conlan, Grace Tregear & Heath Chalmers
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RV Stewards' Report - Jim Conlan
Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued the following charge against Jim Conlan, as the trainer of ‘Wealdstone’ (the Horse), under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2).
Charge One: 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 6 December 2024, the Horse was brought to the Mornington Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 7, the ‘Ground Screws Victoria Handicap’ over 2050 metres (the Race), finishing third.
On 6 December 2024, a pre-race blood sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Caffeine and its metabolites Theophylline and Theobromine.
Caffeine 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 Caffeine and its metabolites, Theophylline and Theobromine, were detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and the Australian Racing Forensics Laboratory.
Caffeine and its metabolites, Theophylline and Theobromine, are central nervous system stimulants and are prohibited substances under Australian Rules of Racing 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).
During the investigation, the Stewards identified that Mr Conlan had been using the Poseidon Animal Health product, MetaboLize.
On 13 March 2025, RV issued an Industry Notice advising trainers to immediately stop using MetaboLize until further notice. This was done because RV had become aware that Metabolize may contain levels of caffeine.
The charge issued against Mr. Conlan will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
RV Stewards' Report - Grace Tregear
Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards have issued five charges against registered owner, Grace Tregear, following an investigation into the care and welfare of retired thoroughbred horses.
Ms. Tregear have been charged with breaching Australian Rule of Racing 231(1)(b)(iv), which states:
(1) A person must not:
(b) if the person is in charge of a horse – fail at any time:
(iv) to provide proper and sufficient nutrition for the horse.
The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:
Charges 1 – 5: AR 231(1)(b)(iv)
Between approximately 1 February 2024 and 12 August 2024, as the person in charge of five retired thoroughbred racehorses, Ms. Tregear failed to provide proper and sufficient nutrition.
The charges issued against Ms. Tregear will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.
RV Stewards' Report - Heath Chalmers
Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued three charges against Heath Chalmers, as the trainer of ‘Immortal Weapon’ (the Horse), pursuant to Australian Rules of Racing 228(b), 231(1)(a) and 233(a), which state:
AR 228 Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing
A person must not engage in:
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(b) misconduct, improper conduct or unseemly behaviour;
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AR 231 Care and welfare of horses
(1) A person must not:
(a) commit or commission an act of cruelty to a horse, or be in possession of any article or thing which, in the opinion of the Stewards, is capable of inflicting cruelty to a horse;
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AR 233 Other misconduct offences
A person must not:
(a) breach a policy, regulation or code of practice published by Racing Australia or a PRA;
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The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:
Charge 1 - AR 228(b)
On 20 November 2024, Mr Chalmers engaged in improper conduct whilst utilising a jogger to train the Horse, resulting in the Horse suffering serious injuries and being euthanised.
Charge 2 - AR 231(1)(a)
On 20 November 2024, Mr Chalmers was in possession of an article or thing, namely a lead rope with a metal clip, which in the opinion of the Stewards, was capable of inflicting cruelty to the Horse.
Charge 3 – AR 233(a)
On 20 November 2024, Mr Chalmers was in breach of RV's Thoroughbred Racehorse Welfare Policy, in that he used an unbreakable tether to tie the Horse to the jogger during training.
The charges issued against Mr. Chalmers will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.