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It is to be noted that the current open inquiries can be found by the following link.
www.hrnsw.com.au
Inquiries Concluded
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5 December 2022– Mr Dennis Lindsay pleaded guilty to a charge issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to AHRR 190 (1), (2) & (4) following a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that alpha-hydroxy metoprolol was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from OUR CHANCE TODREAM following its win in Race 7, the WOLF BLASS PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Newcastle on Friday 27 May 2022. Consequently, Mr Lindsay was fined $2,000. The subject horse was disqualified under the provisions of AHRR 195.
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12 December 2022– Ms Lisa McDonald pleaded guilty to two (2) charges issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule AHRR 196C (1)(b) & (2)(c) in relation to a treatment provided on Saturday 1 January 2022 to the registered standardbreds STEALTH BOMBA NZ and CHRISTIAN BROTHER NZ that were engaged to race at Maitland on Sunday 2 January 2022. STEALTH BOMBA NZ and CHRISTIAN BROTHER NZ were subsequently withdrawn from their respective races by order of the Stewards. Consequently, Ms McDonald was fined $1,000 in relation to each offence.
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19 December 2022– Mr Mitch Hutchings pleaded guilty to three (3) charges issued by HRNSW Stewards in relation to the mistreatment of a horse by Mr Mitch Hutchings between 15 October 2018 and 9 September 2019 as follows:
Charge 1- Pursuant to AHRR 213;
Charge 2- Pursuant to AHRR 218A- issued in the alternative
to Charge 1;
Charge 3- Pursuant to AHRR 243.
Consequently, HRNSW Stewards imposed the following penalties:
Charge 1: 18 months disqualification to commence immediately;
Charge 2: Issued in the alternative to Charge 1- Stewards did not proceed to the matter of penalty in respect of this charge at this time;
Charge 3: 18 months disqualification to be served concurrent to Charge 1.
Mr Hutchings has appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards in relation to penalty.
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22 December 2022– HRNSW Stewards finalised an Inquiry involving Mr Nathan Townsend that previously resulted in a charge being issued against him pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule 190 (1), (3) & (4), in that he was the person in charge of the horse GOOD COP which was presented to race at Parkes on Monday 4 October 2021 with a prohibited substance in its system, namely Modafinil and/or Modafinil Acid. Mr Townsend previously reserved his plea and sought an adjournment to obtain legal advice. Subsequently, Mr Townsend pleaded guilty and provided submissions in relation to penalty. In relation to penalty, HRNSW Stewards imposed a 12 months disqualification period.
Mr Townsend has appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards in relation to penalty and has applied for a Stay of Proceedings.
Appeal Decisions
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5 December 2022– Mrs Stacie Elliott appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards to disqualify her for a period of 12 months after she pleaded guilty to a charge issued pursuant to AHRR 190(1), (2) & (4) following a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that ethacrynic acid was been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from ENEMY LINES following its win in race 3, the MATES 4 HARNESS PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Newcastle on Monday 28 February 2022. By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, the appeal was upheld and a disqualification period of 10 months imposed.
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5 December 2022– Mr Blake Fitzpatrick withdrew an appeal against the decision of HRNSW Stewards to suspend his driver’s licence on 22 November 2022 for a period of 28 days pursuant to AHRR 159A (7) & (8) following an adjourned Steward’s Inquiry from Penrith on 22 November 2022.
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6 December 2022– Mr Michael Muscat appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards to disqualify him for a total period of 6 years following a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that Total Plasma Carbon Dioxide above the prescribed threshold was detected in the pre-race blood sample taken from KNIGHT WALKER prior to it running in race 1, the BLING IT ON @ COBBITTY EQUINE FARM PACE (1730 metres) conducted at Bathurst on Wednesday 22 December 2021.
Mr Michael Muscat pleaded guilty to a charge issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4) and was found guilty of a further charge issued pursuant to AHRR 196C (1)(b) & (2)(c).
By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, the appeal in relation to AHRR 190 (1), (2) & (4) was dismissed and the appeal in relation to AHRR 196C (1)(b) & (2)(c) was upheld. A total disqualification period of 5 years 11 months and 2 weeks was imposed.
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12 December 2022– Mr Nathan Xuereb appealed against the decision of HRNSW Stewards to suspend his driver’s licence for a period of 28 days following a breach of AHRR 163(1)(a)(iii) when driving SWEET ANNIE in Race 2 at Penrith on Thursday 20 October 2022. By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal the appeal was upheld.
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14 December 2022– Mr Peter Russo appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards to find him guilty and disqualify him for a period of 3 years and 6 months following a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that Total Plasma Carbon Dioxide above the prescribed threshold was detected in the screening analysis of the pre-race blood sample taken from DIVINE DIVA prior to it running in race 3, the WARDS ACCOUNTING GROUP LADYSHIP PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday 9 October 2021. Total Plasma Carbon Dioxide above the prescribed threshold was confirmed in the ‘B’ sample by the Racing Science Centre in Queensland.
Mr Russo pleaded not guilty to a charge issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4).
By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, the appeal in relation to AHRR 190 (1), (2) & (4) was dismissed. A decision in relation to penalty is to be determined following submissions.
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16 December 2022– Mr John Scott appealed a decision of the HRNSW Licensing Committee to cancel his driver’s licence. By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, the appeal was upheld and Mr Scott’s driver’s licence reinstated.
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22 December 2022– Mr James Rattray withdrew an appeal against the decision of HRNSW Stewards to suspend his driver’s licence at Goulburn on 28 November 2022 for a period of 10 days pursuant to AHRR 163(2).
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23 December 2022– Mr Peter Trevor-Jones appealed the decision of HRNSW Stewards to disqualify him for a period of 3 months. In addition, Mr Trevor-Jones changed his previous guilty plea before HRNSW Stewards to a not guilty plea at the time of lodging the notice of appeal.
HRNSW Stewards issued a charge against Mr Trevor-Jones pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4) following a report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory that trendione and epitrenbolone were detected in the urine sample taken from IM ALL COURAGE following its win in race 7, the BARKERS BUTCHERY PACE (1730 metres) conducted at Bathurst on Monday 20 April 2020. The “B” sample was confirmed by Racing Analytical Services LTD (RASL) in Victoria.
By decision of the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, the appeal in relation to AHRR 190 (1), (2) & (4) was dismissed. A decision in relation to penalty is to be determined following submissions.
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28 December 2022– Mr Jack Callaghan withdrew an appeal against the decision of HRNSW Stewards to suspend his driver’s licence at Newcastle on 10 October 2022 for a period of 14 days pursuant to AHRR 163(1)(a)(iii).
Integrity Information
- During the month of December 2022, HRNSW Integrity department obtained 814 Race day samples.
As per normal HRNSW procedure all samples have been submitted for analysis.
Integrity Notices
- 5 December 2022 – Mr Dennis Lindsay- HRNSW Stewards Inquiry.
- 6 December 2022 – November Integrity Updates & Information.
- 12 December 2022 – Ms Lisa McDonald- Inquiry Conducted.
- 19 December 2022 – Mr Mitch Hutchings- Inquiry Conducted.
- 22 December 2022 – Mr Nathan Townsend- HRNSW Steward’s Inquiry.
Original Integrity notices can be found here
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