Harness stewards’ inquiry – trainer Mike Reed (Ragazzo Mach NZ)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards yesterday issued their determination with respect to penalty following the stewards’ decision on Monday, 20 March 2023 to find harness trainer Mike Reed guilty to a breach of Harness Rule of Racing 190A (1) (a) where the particulars of the charge were:
“that he was the licensed trainer of Ragazzo Mach NZ when a sample was taken from it on 4 January 2023 for the purposes of out-of-competition testing which was found to have the presence of Stanozolol, being a substance specified within sub-rule (2) (r) of that rule as an anabolic androgenic steroid, being detected in that sample.”
After deliberation, the panel determined the appropriate penalty to be a disqualification of six months, effective as of Thursday, 9 March 2023, the date Mr Reed’s training licence was suspended pending the outcome of this matter. Accordingly, the penalty expires midnight on Friday, 8 September 2023.
Further, the stewards determined to disqualify Ragazzo Mach NZ from those races listed below, in which it competed in subsequent to the date the sample was taken, with relevant amendments to placings to occur with any and all prize money to be forfeited and returned to RWWA for redistribution in accordance with such amendments.
- Friday, 6 Jan 2023 at Gloucester Park where it finished sixth, earning $1000 in stakes.
- Friday, 13 Jan 2023 at Gloucester Park where it finished second, earning $3960 in stakes.
- Friday, 20 Jan 2023 at Gloucester Park where it finished seventh, earning $300 in stakes.
Further, pursuant to Rule 190AA (4) Ragazzo Mach NZ is not permitted to start in any race or be used for the purposes of breeding:
(a) for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of the collection of the sample in which an anabolic androgenic steroid was detected; and
(b) only after an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Clearing Certificate is provided in respect of a sample taken from the horse, such sample having been taken at a date determined by the stewards.
In assessing penalty, stewards considered, amongst other things:
- Mr Reed’s long history and level of licensed involvement.
- That his record included two prior offences relating to the presentation of horses with prohibited substances being detected.
- The intent and purpose of the rule in question which is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of the industry and in doing so the confidence of those that participate in it or otherwise support it.
- That Stanozolol is effectively a permanently banned substance under the Harness Rules of Racing.
- The range of penalties imposed in relation to anabolic androgenic steroid detections since they were made permanently banned in 2014, all of which resulted in periods of disqualification.
- The admissions of Mr Mark Reed in relation to the administration of the substance in question.
- Previous cases, including that of trainer Mr Jeff Bull in 2005, whose 12-month disqualification as a first offender in circumstances where the owner had admitted to administering the substance in question without his prior knowledge, was reduced to a six-month disqualification on appeal.