In this Discussion
- Arlo February 2019
- Chris December 2018
- Desperado February 2019
- Flanders February 2019
- GaryH August 2018
- GLAMOUR August 2018
- Godd August 2018
- H-BOMBER May 2019
- JayJay August 2018
- JimmyPop February 2019
- Jockeysroom February 2019
- jum August 2018
- LooksLikeTrouble August 2018
- Manchild August 2018
- Nosey August 2018
- paraletic August 2018
- piker December 2018
- RightOakAunt August 2018
- RIO May 2019
- runyon August 2018
- SLIPPERGOLDEN February 2019
- spinking February 2019
- TheDiva May 2019
- thefalcon February 2019
- TheFunkster August 2018
- tony May 2019
Arsenic over threshold
West Australian RacingMEDIA RELEASE
Thoroughbred Stewards
Inquiry
Trainer Mr Lindsey Smith
RWWA Stewards
today conducted an inquiry into reports received from the ChemCentre in Perth,
that arsenic in excess of the threshold value being 0.30 mg/L in urine, had
been detected in the urine samples taken from the following horses after
competing in and winning the races as detailed below:
·
GREAT AGAIN –
Race 6, Northam Race Club 4 June 2018
·
MR MOTOWN –
Race 6, Belmont 9 June 2018
Evidence was taken from RWWA
Veterinarian Dr. J Medd, RWWA Senior Investigator, Mr G. Johnson, ChemCentre
Analyst Ms. M Raghvani and the trainer Mr. L Smith.
Mr L. Smith was subsequently
charged with two offences under the provisions ARR 178, which states:
·
Subject to AR.177C, when any
horse that has been brought to a racecourse for the purpose of engaging in a
race and a prohibited substance is detected in any sample taken from it prior
to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who
was in charge of such horse at any relevant time may be penalised.
·
The
particulars being that he brought GREAT AGAIN and MR MOWTOWN to start in the
above races with the prohibited substance arsenic being detected in the urine
samples taken from both horses following their respective races.
·
Mr Smith
pleaded not guilty to both charges and the inquiry was adjourned to a time and
date to be fixed to allow stewards to consider the evidence and his submissions
in defence of the charges.
Comments
MEDIA RELEASE
Thoroughbred & Harness – Arsenic Detections
RWWA Stewards
have been advised by the ChemCentre in Perth, that arsenic in excess of the
threshold of 0.3mg/L permitted within the Rules of Racing has been detected in
the following:
·
KASEY JOHN
(Harness Trainer Mr. Michael Brennan) after it competed in and won Race 1
at Gloucester Park on 29 June 2018
·
DIPLOMAT
EXPRESS (Thoroughbred Trainer Mr. Dennis Barker) after it competed in and
won Race 7 at Belmont on 20 June 2018
·
RED TAIL
(Harness Trainer Mr. Hayden Reeves) after it competed in and won Race 2 at
Bunbury on 16 June 2018
These findings have been
verified by Racing Analytical Services Ltd (Vic) (RASL).
Additional analysis of these
samples by RASL to assist in assessing the possible sources of the arsenic is
being conducted. Once the results of this analysis is known stewards will
determine the appropriate course of action.
In view of the recent spate of similar arsenic
detections, stewards are currently undertaking considerations and
investigations which may delay the resolution of some of the current
outstanding matters.
THOROUGHBRED STEWARDS INQUIRY MR. LOU LUCIANI
RWWA Stewards today conducted an inquiry into a report received from the ChemCentre in Perth, that arsenic in excess of the threshold value being 0.30 mg/L in urine, had been detected in the urine sample taken from MURRAY THE BULLDOG after it competed in and won Race 7 at Pinjarra on 3 June 2018.
Evidence was taken from RWWA Veterinarian Dr. Judith Medd, Stewards Compliance Officer Ms. Freya Bennett, ChemCentre Analyst Ms. Kelly Wilson and the trainer Mr. Lou Luciani.
Mr. Luciani was charged under the provisions of ARR178, which states;
The particulars of the charge being that as the trainer of MURRAY THE BULLDOG he brought that gelding to compete in the above race with the prohibited substance arsenic being detected in the post-race urine sample taken from it.
Mr. Luciani pleaded not guilty to the charge and stewards have now adjourned the inquiry to consider the matter further.
The fences argument will come out again. Either change the threshold or ban the fences, seems simple to me. But I'm not a horse trainer that has paddocks lined with these performance enhancing poles, so what's the solution?
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THOROUGHBRED STEWARDS INQUIRY TRAINER MR STEELE CASEY
RWWA Stewards have concluded an inquiry into reports received from the ChemCentre in Perth, that arsenic in excess of the threshold value being 0.30 mg/L in urine, had been detected in the urine samples taken from the following horses after competing in and winning the races indicated:
Evidence was taken from RWWA Veterinarian Dr. J Medd, RWWA Compliance Officer Mrs. F. Bennett, ChemCentre Analyst Ms. K. Wilson and the trainer Mr. Steele Casey. That evidence included analysis of various products, water and wood samples taken from Mr Steele’s training premises.
Mr Casey pleaded guilty to three charges under the provisions of ARR178 for bringing the horses in question to race with the prohibited substance being detected in the samples taken.
The rule in question is one of absolute liability which, once the presence of a prohibited substance is found, matters concerning the reasons for its presence were more relevant to penalty.
There was no evidence before the inquiry that Mr Casey used or possessed any products containing significant levels of arsenic. The analysis of samples taken from the property confirmed the presence of arsenic at a level of significance only in the wood sample. The levels detected in the horses being in the range of 0.52mg/L to 0.78mg/L.
Dr. Medd, referring to a study by Melbourne University faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences which examined the ingestion of wood shavings containing arsenic and the elevated levels achieved, advised such levels were not inconsistent with that seen in the samples taken from the horses in question. Stewards therefore could not exclude to the requisite standard that the level of arsenic detected in Mr Casey’s horses’ urine was not the result of the horses consuming fencing at the property.
Mr Casey indicated that he was not aware of the various warnings issued by the Stewards to trainers as published in Racing Ahead and on the RWWA website, with respect to arsenic and the need to conduct environmental audits of their facilities to ensure they eliminate access of racehorses to Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) treated pine timber products which present a risk of elevated arsenic levels in race day samples.
It is expected that all trainers make reasonable efforts to keep abreast of industry warnings, such as those issued with respect to arsenic that are widely published and available. Ignorance to such notices which leads or contributes to offences under the rules is not acceptable and may lead to penalties being issued for any breaches that arise.
In view of his youth and short time that he has held a Permit to train, in addition to his cooperation and immediate plea of guilt and steps taken since, the Stewards determined not to impose a penalty against Mr Casey for the breaches of ARR178 at this time in the circumstances.
Acting under the provisions of Rule 177 all horses were disqualified from the races in question and the Stewards directed that the placings be amended accordingly with commensurate implications for all stake money.
Stewards again warn all trainers to take steps to eliminate access of their racehorses to CCA treated pine timber products or any other products that may present a similar risk of an elevated arsenic level in any race day sample. Failure to take adequate steps to guard against such exposures may lead to penalties being imposed if the presentation of horses with arsenic levels in excess of the threshold arise.
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Have any arsenic positives been detected in non-winners that have had random pre-race blood samples taken or do all the positives come from horses that won.
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