Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an Inquiry today into reports received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that morphine had been detected in post-race urine samples obtained from the following horses:
- ULTIMATE AD following its win in Race 4 at Armidale on Thursday 15 November 2018;
- CLINTAL DO following its win in Race 7 at Armidale on Thursday 15 November 2018.
The ‘B’ samples were confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.
Mr March provided evidence to the Inquiry regarding his registered training establishment and husbandry. Evidence including the Reports of Analysis were presented to the Inquiry as well as information provided by ARFL that the data for both samples indicated the presence of a papaverine urinary metabolite at trace levels consistent with the presence of papaverine as an additional alkaloid marker with morphine found in some wild poppies.
HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr Martin Wainscott was present and also provided evidence to the Inquiry.
Mr March pleaded guilty to two (2) charges issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4) for presenting ULTIMATE AD and CLINTAL DO to race not free of a prohibited substance, namely morphine.
In respect of that charge, Stewards recorded a conviction, however, did not impose a penalty on Mr March as they were satisfied that the detection of morphine had resulted from feed contamination.
In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following;
- Mr March’s first second Prohibited Substance offences;
- Mr March’s guilty pleas;
- Analytical reports and information provided by ARFL;
- Feed contamination;
- Mr March’s licence history and other personal subjective facts.
Acting under the provisions of AHRR 195, ULTIMATE AD and CLINTAL DO were disqualified from the abovementioned races.
Mr March was advised of his right to appeal those decisions.
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by a Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
HRNSW INTEGRITY CONTACTS:
MICHAEL PRENTICE | INTEGRITY MANAGER
(02) 9722 6600 • mprentice@hrnsw.com.au
GRANT ADAMS | CHAIRMAN OF STEWARDS
(02) 9722 6600 • gadams@hrnsw.com.au
