Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards have issued a charge against licensed trainer Alfio Grasso under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190(1), which reads as follows:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances
It is alleged that the horse ‘Safari Rose’ was presented to race at Mildura on 19 July 2019 by Mr Grasso, whilst not free of alkalinising agents, a prohibited substance when evidenced by a total carbon dioxide (TCO2) concentration in excess of 36 millimoles per litre in plasma.
The charge will be heard by the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.