Latest News

Racing NSW Stewards yesterday conducted an inquiry into the Analysts’ findings of dobesilate in a pre-race blood sample taken from Butch‘n’bugs prior to the gelding running in Race 5 (Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1600m) conducted at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 9 July 2022 and also in Race 2 (Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1800m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 6 August 2022.

Evidence was yesterday taken from the trainer of Butch‘n’bugs, Peter Green, Racing NSW General Manager-Veterinary Services Dr Peter Curl, ARFL General Manager John Keledjian, Racing NSW Stipendiary Steward Josh Earl and Racing NSW Investigator Jared Rodger.

Written evidence was also tendered by Mr Green in the form of a report from Dr Derek Major of Derek Major Consulting Pty Ltd.

Charges – AR240(2)

 Mr Green pleaded guilty to two (2) charges under AR240(2) of having presented Butch‘n’bugs to race at Royal Randwick on 9 July 2022 and 6 August 2022 and a pre-race blood sample taken from Butch‘n’bugs was found to contain the prohibited substance dobesilate.

Penalty

The Stewards considered the following matters in respect to penalty:

• Guilty plea and cooperation with the investigation.
• Personal and professional circumstances.
• Disciplinary record which contained a previous penalty for having breached the rules in respect of a prohibited substance.
• There is no listing of dobesilate as a registered medicine by the Australian Government Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and/or agricultural or a veterinary chemical product by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (AVPVMA).
• Principle of specific and general deterrence and what message is to be sent to the industry in respect of such matters.
• Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the integrity of the Thoroughbred industry.

Mr Green’s trainer's licence was suspended for a period of eight (8) months on each of the charges. Having regard to Mr Green’s guilty plea and other relevant considerations, the Stewards ruled that both periods of suspension be varied to six (6) months.

Stewards also ruled that the periods of suspension be served cumulatively resulting in a total period of twelve (12) months suspension. This penalty is to commence on 18 December 2022 and to expire on 18 December 2023.

Butch‘n’bugs

 In accordance with the provisions of AR240(1), Butch‘n’bugs was disqualified from its sixth placing in Race 5 (Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap) conducted at Royal Randwick on 9 July 2022 and also from its eighth placing in Race 2 (Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap) conducted at Royal Randwick on 6 August 2022, with the placings amended accordingly.

Relevant Rule

Division 2 – Prohibited substance in a sample taken from a horse

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.

 - S G Railton, Racing NSW Chairman of Stewards