Harness Stewards Inquiry – Trainer Ms A Belton (GOTTA GO GABBANA)
RWWA Stewards have concluded the inquiry into the report received from the Chem Centre in Perth that arsenic in excess of the threshold of 0.30ug/mL in urine had been detected in the sample taken from GOTTA GO GABBANA after it had competed in and finished third in Race 2 at Gloucester Park on 15 November 2020.
After hearing evidence from trainer Mrs A Belton, Managing Owner Mr C Belton, Chem Centre Analyst Ms. E Cook, RWWA Industry Veterinarian Dr. C McMullen and RWWA Senior Investigator Mr. G. Johnson, Mrs Belton pleaded guilty to the following charge
Rule 190 Presentation free of prohibited substances
Particulars: That Mrs A. Belton as the trainer brought GOTTA GO GABBANA to race in Race 2 at Gloucester Park on 15 November 2020 where it raced and finished third with the prohibited substance arsenic present within the horse, evidenced by a concentration of arsenic in excess of 0.30ug/mL.
Penalty
After considering penalty, Stewards determined to impose a fine of $2,000 of which $1,000 was suspended for a period of 12 months on condition that Mrs Belton does not breach any of the detection of prohibited substances rules within that period.
Further pursuant to HRR195, GOTTA GO GABBANA was disqualified from the race in question with placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implication to all stake money to apply.
In determining penalty Stewards took into account several factors including:
- Mrs Belton plea of guilt, co-operation throughout and that this was her first offence after many years of licensed involvement.
- That the Stewards were satisfied that the reported level of arsenic was likely to have arisen due to ingestion of CCA treated fencing at the property as there were no other potential sources of arsenic located during the unannounced inspection of her property and treatments.
- That Mrs Belton had been previously warned in 2018 when a different horse had attained a high reading, albeit below the threshold, including efforts made to address exposure to these timbers.
- That whilst some efforts had been made in response to the previous warning, ultimately these were not sufficient to prevent this matter arising as was evident from photographs depicting further chewing of fences in the paddock where GOTTA GO GABBANA was located.
- Previous cases of similar nature where similar penalties were imposed.
- The need for penalties to encourage all trainers to take appropriate cautions, particularly where there is evidence of horses chewing CCA treated timbers and take such steps as are necessary to ameliorate the possibility of these matters arising.