Mr Shannon Rye - Inquiry Conducted

Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an Inquiry yesterday in relation to a report from the Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) that Cobalt above the threshold of 100 micrograms per litre in urine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from BARRYS ROSE following its win in race 7, the BOURKES HORSE RUGS PACE (1660 metres) conducted at Parkes on Friday 18 October 2024.

The reserve portion and control solution were confirmed by the ChemCentre in Western Australia.

Licensed Trainer Mr Shannon Rye was present with his legal representative, Mr Peter Morris (Jnr). Mr Rye provided evidence to the Inquiry in relation to the horse BARRYS ROSE and his registered training establishment.

In addition, the certificates of Analysis and evidence from HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Martin Wainscott were presented to the Inquiry.

Mr Rye pleaded guilty to two (2) charges issued by HRNSW Stewards.

Charge 1:      Issued pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4) as follows:

AHRR 190.  (1)  A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

(2)  If a horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1) the trainer of the horse is guilty of an offence.

(3)  If a person is left in charge of a horse and the horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1), the trainer of the horse and the person left in charge is each guilty of an offence.

(4)  An offence under sub rule (2) or sub rule (3) is committed regardless of the circumstances in which the prohibited substance came to be present in or on the horse.

Charge 2:                  Issued pursuant to AHRR 190B (1)(b) & (6)

190B.  (1)  A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a log book:-

(a)  listing all therapeutic substances in his or her possession;

(b)  recording all details of treatment administered to any horse in his or her care and including as a minimum requirement:

(i)         the name of the horse

(ii)        the date and time of administration of the treatment

(iii)       the name of the treatment (brand name of active constituent)

(iv)       the route of administration

(v)        the amount given

(vi)       the name and signature of the person or persons administering and/or authorising treatment…..

(6)  A trainer who fails to comply with the provisions of sub-rule (1), (3), (4) or (5) is guilty of an offence.

In relation to those charges, HRNSW Stewards imposed the following penalties:

Charge 1:    2 years disqualification to commence from 10 December 2024, the date upon which Mr Rye was stood down pursuant to AHRR 183.

Charge 2:    $500 fine

In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following;

• Mr Rye’s involvement in the harness racing industry as a licensed person since the 2002/03 season;
• Mr Ryes’s training and driving records, together with his harness racing offence record;
• First prohibited substance offence;
• Class 1 Prohibited Substance;
• The levels of cobalt recorded;
• The impact of a disqualification upon Mr Rye from a personal and financial perspective.

Acting under the provisions of AHRR 195, BARRYS ROSE was disqualified from the abovementioned race.

Mr Rye was informed of his right to appeal these decisions of the HRNSW Stewards.

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