Harness Stewards Inquiry – Trainer Neil Lloyd
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Stewards have concluded an inquiry into reports received from ChemCentre in Perth that arsenic in excess of the threshold of 0.30ug/ml in urine had been detected in the post race urine sample taken from SKYLINE TRAIL (trained by Mr Neil Lloyd) after Race 5 at Gloucester Park on 26 May 2020 where it raced and finished fourth.
Evidence was heard/tabled from the ChemCentre, Senior Investigator Mr G. Johnson and RWWA Industry Veterinarian Dr C. McMullen.
Mr Lloyd pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge – HRR190(1), (2), (4) with the particulars being; that as the licenced trainer he presented SKYLINE TRAIL to race in Race 5 at Gloucester Park on 26 May 2020, where it raced and finished fourth, with the prohibited substance Arsenic being detected in a post race urine sample taken from it, as evidenced by a concentration of Arsenic in excess of 0.30 milligrams per litre.
Penalty
After considering penalty, Stewards determined to impose a fine of $2,000 with $1,000 of this fine to be suspended for a period of 12 months on the condition that Mr Lloyd did not breach any of the detection of Prohibited Substance rules, in relation to the detection of Arsenic within that period. Should any further breach occur within that period the balance of the fine will be payable together with any subsequent penalty that may be issued for the further offence.
Further pursuant to HRR195, SKYLINE TRAIL was disqualified from the race in question with placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all stake money to apply.
In determining penalty, Stewards took into account several factors including:
- Mr Lloyd’s personal circumstances and plea of guilt.
- That the Stewards were satisfied that the reported level of arsenic was likely to have arisen due to SKYLINE TRAIL ingesting CCA treated poles at the property.
- Previous warnings to participants that future action taken by Stewards, in matters relation 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 CCA treated timber products.
- Despite warnings being issued for offences in relation to the detection of Arsenic are continuing to occur, and there was now a need for penalties to be in place to further encourage all trainers to take the appropriate cautions 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 CCA treated timber or other products which may contain Arsenic.