Harness Racing NSW have received a report from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory (HKJC) that EPO has been detected in a sample taken from a Pacer prior to it racing.
This sample was initially screened at the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory which detected a discrepancy and forwarded the sample to HKJC for further analytic testing.
The trainer of the horse involved has been notified.
Although the normal HRNSW policy is not to advise of an irregularity until it has been confirmed by a second laboratory, given the nature of the substance and the time it will take for the second sample to be analysed, an exception has been made in this circumstance.
HRNSW will not make any further comment on this matter at this stage.