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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analysts’ finding of Mepivacaine in a post-race blood sample taken from Salute Again after it won Race 3 (Open Handicap, 1200m) conducted at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club race meeting on Tuesday, 12 December 2023.

Evidence was today taken from trainer of Salute Again, Wayne Carroll, Chief Racing New South Wales Veterinary Officer, Dr Peter Curl, and Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory General Manager, John Keledjian.

Mr Carroll also represented the interests of the remaining owners of Salute Again in respect to the provisions of AR240(1).

Charge

Mr Carroll pleaded guilty to a charge under AR240(2) in that, as the trainer of the racehorse Salute Again at all relevant times up to and including Tuesday, 12 December 2023, he did bring the gelding to Murrumbidgee Turf Club's Wagga Racecourse on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 for the purpose of participating in Race 3 (Open Handicap, 1200m) when a prohibited substance on Prohibited List B, namely Mepivacaine, was detected in the blood sample taken from Salute Again after the race.

Penalty

The following matters were considered in respect to penalty:

1. Guilty plea
2. Co-operation during the investigation and inquiry
3. Good disciplinary record of over 40 years
4. Mr Carroll’s personal and professional circumstances

Mr Carroll was fined $4000, reduced from $6000 for his guilty plea and other considerations.

In accordance with the provisions of AR240(1) Salute Again was disqualified from its first placing in the Open Handicap, 1200m conducted at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club race meeting on Tuesday, 12 December 2023. The placing amendments are as followed:

Relevant Rules:

 AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting

• Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the horse must be disqualified from any race in which it started on that day.
• Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.