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;
Subject to AR 178 G, 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 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.