Harness stewards’ inquiry – trainer Gary Hall Snr
Racing and Wagering WA stewards have concluded an inquiry into reports received from the ChemCentre (WA) and Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) (Victoria) confirming the detection of the prohibited substance arsenic in excess of the threshold of 0.30 micrograms per millilitre in post-race urine samples taken from:
- Jumpingjackmack NZ after it competed in and finished second in race four at Gloucester Park on 3 June 2022.
- Scarlet Ribbon after it competed in and won race nine at Pinjarra on 13 June 2022.
Evidence was taken from trainer G Hall Snr, ChemCentre Representative Dr N Beckett, RWWA investigator F Bennett and RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen.
Mr Hall Snr pleaded guilty to two breaches of HR 190 (1), (2), (4) with the particulars of the charges being:
Charge One: Mr Gary Hall Snr as the trainer presented Jumpingjackmack NZ to compete in race four at Gloucester Park on 3 June 2022 where it raced and finished second not free of the prohibited substance arsenic as evidenced by a concentration of arsenic in excess of 0.30 micrograms per millilitre being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from the gelding.
Charge two: Mr Gary Hall Snr as the trainer presented Scarlet Ribbon to compete in race nine at Pinjarra on 13 June 2022 where it raced and won not free of the prohibited substance arsenic as evidenced by a concentration of arsenic in excess of 0.30 micrograms per millilitre being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from the filly.
Regarding the penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Hall’s personal circumstances, including his excellent record in relation to prohibited substance rules during many years of participation in the harness industry
- Mr Hall’s acknowledgement of the offences as evidenced by his guilty pleas
- The circumstances of these matters, where a power utility had installed an arsenic-treated power pole in the paddock where Jumpingjackmack NZ and Scarlet Ribbon resided
- Mr Hall had taken some precautions to prevent the ingestion of arsenic by these horses by placing wire netting around the pole.
- The stewards were satisfied that the reported levels of arsenic were consistent with the horses in question ingesting part of the treated wooden power pole
- There were no products on Mr Hall’s training establishment containing arsenic.
- Precedence in relation to past similar matters
- Previous warnings to participants that future action taken by the stewards in matters relating to the presentation of horses with arsenic levels which exceed the threshold may result in penalties being imposed, regardless of any evidence relating to the ingestion of treated timber products.
- Despite warnings being issued, offences in relation to the detection of arsenic are continuing to occur and there was a need for penalties to be in place to further encourage all trainers to take the appropriate precautions to prevent horses exceeding the threshold for this substance. In this regard, trainers are again reminded to take all necessary steps to avoid horses being exposed to ingestion of treated timber or other products which may contain arsenic.
Taking all matters into account, the stewards determined the appropriate penalty for each offence was a fine of $1000.
Acting under the provisions of HR 195, Jumpingjackmack NZ and Scarlet Ribbon were disqualified from their respective races in question and the stewards directed that the placings be amended accordingly, with commensurate implications for stake money.