RV Stewards' Report - John D Pearson

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued three charges against John D Pearson, as the trainer of Minesite (the Horse), pursuant to Australian Rules of Racing 245(1), 240(2) (in the alternative) and 104(1).

The relevant rules are reproduced 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.

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. 

The particulars of the charges are summarised as follows:

Charges 1 and 2 – AR 245(1) and AR 240(2) (in the alternative)

• On 10 November 2024, the Horse was brought to the Benalla Racecourse and was engaged to run in Race 5, the Yarrawonga Hotel BM58 Handicap, over 1406 metres (the Race), finishing 11th.
   
• On 10 November 2024, a pre-race urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample). 
   
• An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Cobalt.

The presence of Cobalt was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by the Racing Chemistry Laboratory. Cobalt is a prohibited substance, in accordance with the Rules of Racing, at a concentration in excess of 100 micrograms per litre in urine.

Charge 3 – AR 104(1)

• On 6 December 2024, Mr. Pearson was requested by Stewards to produce treatment records for the Horse.

• Between 6-17 November 2024, Mr. Pearson failed to record all medications or treatments administered to the Horse by the end of the day on which the administration was given, as required by AR 104(1).

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