For immediate release
Date of issue 10 August 2018
DYLAN FORD – ALEMERIA INQUIRY
Panel: A Crowther, S Quill, B Baudinette
On Thursday 9 August 2018, Office of Racing Integrity Stewards Inquired into reports from two approved racing laboratories into the presence of TCO2 above the threshold in blood samples taken from ALEMRIA prior to it racing in and winning Race 7 at the Launceston Pacing Club on 11 July 2018.
Evidence was heard from representatives of Racing Analytical Services Limited and the Racing Science Centre, and from Dr Peter Horridge.
Trainer Dylan Ford provided evidence about his treatment practices and stable routines and evidence was also heard from licensed driver Taylor Ford and conditional stablehand Phillip Ford in relation to their roles within the stable and their roles on 11 July, the day of the race.
After hearing from all parties Mr Dylan Ford was issued three charges.
-
AHRR 190(1)- A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances, (2) if a horse is presented to race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1) the trainer of the horse is guilty of an offence,(4) An offence under sub rule (2) is committed regardless of the circumstances in which the prohibited substance came to be present in or on the horse.
-
AHRR 196A (1) A person shall not administer or cause to be administered to a horse any prohibited substance (i) for the purpose of affecting the performance or behaviour of a horse in a race or of preventing its starting in a race.
-
AHRR 190B(1) A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a logbook.
Mr Ford pleaded guilty to charges 1 and 3, and entered a plea of not guilty to charge 2. After giving due consideration to all of the evidence Stewards found Mr Ford guilty of Charge 2.
After hearing submissions on penalty the following penalties were imposed.
Charge 1- Mr Ford was disqualified for 18 months.
Charge 2- Mr Ford was disqualified for 2 years.
Charge 3- Mr Ford was fined $300.
In determining penalties Stewards took into account Mr Fords personal circumstances, licence history and record under prohibited substance rules, balanced with the need to provide specific and general deterrence to protect the interests of harness racing and to ensure that all horses compete on a level playing field.
Mr Ford’s penalties come into effect immediately with the periods of disqualification to be served concurrently and he was given until 5 pm on Monday 13 August to remove horses from his registered training complex. Mr Ford was advised of his rights of appeal.
Mr Phillip Ford was advised that as his stablehand licence only permitted him to carry out stablehand activity for Mr Dylan Ford, he was no longer able to carry out any licenced activity effective immediately.
Mr Phillip Ford was also apprised of the fact that Stewards would provide a report on the Inquiry to the Controlling Body pursuant to AHRR 15(l).
Under the provisions of AHRR 195 ALEMERIA was disqualified from its first placing in the subject race and the judges placings for the race were amended accordingly with ORIGIN TARA promoted to first place.
- ends -
Adrian Crowther
CHAIRMAN OF STEWARDS - HARNESS
(03) 6777 1900
