The HRV Integrity Department conducted numerous raceday stable inspections upon trainers with runners entered for the Melton harness racing meeting on Friday, 29 April 2016. During an inspection conducted at the stables of licensed trainer Mr Joseph Bajada, HRV Stewards located Mr Bajada at his stables, and also located equipment used for the purpose of stomach tubing horses. Mr Bajada explained that the equipment located had been used to stomach tube a horse, namely Arts Professor, which at the time, such horse was located in a paddock. Mr Bajada put forward that the equipment had not been used upon the horse Major Calipso, which at such time was being prepared for attendance at the Melton racemeeting, when scheduled to compete in Race 1.
In all of the circumstances, the HRV Stewards considered that the horse Major Calipso may have been treated on raceday and therefore may have had a prohibited substance within its system. In accordance with the provisions of the Australian Rules of Harness Racing (ARHR), the HRV Stewards subsequently withdrew Major Calipso from Race 1 at 5.10pm. Numerous swab samples were then obtained from both Major Calipso and Arts Professor for analysis by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL). Mr Bajada was notified that the evidence gathered will be considered, prior to the matter being reconvened at a date in the future to be determined.
