20 April 2016
Panel: L Wilson, C Mclune, N Torpey
Racing Queensland (RQ) Stewards today inquired into the circumstances surrounding the analysts’ findings in respect to a pre-race urine sample taken from JUSTCALLME KAYJAY prior to it competing in Race 7 at Redcliffe on Wednesday, 27 January 2016.
The Queensland Government Racing Science Centre reported that DICLOFENAC, a prohibited substance under the Australian Rules of Harness Racing had been detected.
Today evidence was provided by Dr Karen Caldwell of the Racing Science Centre and trainer of JUSTCALLME KAYJAY, Mr P G (Gary) Thomas, who explained the circumstances and his husbandry practices adopted prior to the race surrounding the detection of DICLOFENAC.
After due consideration of all the evidence provided, Mr Thomas was charged pursuant to AHRR 190(1) which reads:
“ A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances”
The particulars of the charge being that Mr Thomas presented JUSTCALLME KAYJAY to race at Redcliffe on 27 January 2016, when a pre-race urine sample taken from that horse was found upon analysis to contain a prohibited substance, DICLOFENAC.
Mr Thomas pleaded guilty to the charge.
When assessing the matter of penalty, Stewards took into account:
- The nature of the substance concerned
- The particulars of the case
- The Licence history of Gary Thomas which indicated no breaches of this rule over a forty year period
- The need for a penalty to serve as a deterrent to illustrate that drug free racing is of paramount importance to the integrity of harness racing.
Mr Thomas was disqualified for a period of 4 months effective immediately.
Stewards further directed under Rule 195 that JUSTCALLME KAYJAY be disqualified from its second placing at Redcliffe on 27 January 2016 and all other placegetters were amended accordingly.
Mr Thomas was advised of his appeal rights.
