RV Stewards' Report - Chris Calthorpe

Racing Victoria Staff

Mar 18, 2026

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued two charges against Mr. Chris Calthorpe, as the trainer of ‘Divine Turf’ (the Horse), under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2) and 104(1).

Charge One: 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.
…

A summary of the particulars of the charges is as follows:

  1. On 18 November 2025, the Horse was presented to the Kyneton Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 7, the Bet365 New Racing App BM56 Handicap 1472 metres (the Race), finishing fifth.
  2. On 18 November 2025, a pre-race urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
  3. An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of O-Desmethyltramadol.
  4. O-Desmethyltramadol is a prohibited substance pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 3 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.

The presence of O-Desmethyltramadol was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and in the reserve Sample by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.

O-Desmethyltramadol is the primary active metabolite of Tramadol.

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic (pain-relieving medication) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat pain in humans and is not registered for use in horses.

The substance is a prohibited substance under the 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).

Charge Two: AR 104(1) 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, orally, 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; and
    (h) the reason for administering the treatment or medication.

A summary of the particulars of the charges is as follows:

  1. On 13 February 2026, Mr. Calthorpe was requested by Stewards to produce treatment records for the Horse.
  2. Between 8 September 2025 and 27 November 2025 Mr. Calthorpe failed to record all medications or treatments administered to horses under his care by the end of the day on which the administration was given, as required by AR 104(1).

The charges issued against Mr. Calthorpe will be heard and determined before the RV Stewards on a date to be fixed.

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