Harness stewards’ inquiry – Trainer Peter Anderson – Simply Shaz NZ
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards have concluded the inquiry into the report received from the ChemCentre in Perth that arsenic at a concentration above 0.30 micrgrams/millilitre in urine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from Simply Shaz NZ after it won race six at Central Wheatbelt on 14 August 2022.
After hearing evidence from trainer P Anderson, ChemCentre Analyst Ms E Cook, RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen and RWWA Investigator Ms F Bennett, Mr Anderson pleaded guilty to the charge: HR 190 (1), (2) (4)
Particulars:
“That you Mr Peter Anderson, as the trainer, presented Simply Shaz NZ to race at the Central Wheatbelt Harness race meeting on Sunday, 14 August 2022, where the mare raced and won race six, not free of the prohibited substance arsenic as evidenced by a concentration of arsenic above 0.30 micrograms per millilitre in urine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from Simply Shaz NZ.”
Regarding the penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Anderson’s acknowledgement of the offence as evidenced by his guilty plea and his personal circumstances.
- Mr Anderson’s record in relation to prohibited substance rules including a prior breach in relation to arsenic in 2019.
- The circumstances of this matter, where Mr Anderson has an extensive number of arsenic-treated posts at his training establishment and there was unambiguous evidence that Simply Shaz ingested arsenic treated timber in her yard, shown by partially chewed posts.
- Mr Anderson had taken some precautions to prevent horses’ ingestion of arsenic by placing cloth and PVC covers over the posts.
- The stewards were satisfied that the reported levels of arsenic were consistent with the horse in question ingesting part of the treated posts.
- There were no products on Mr Anderson’s training establishment containing arsenic.
- Precedence in relation to past similar matters and any penalty required a deterrent factor, both specific and general.
- 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 is a need for penalties to be in place to further encourage all trainers to take 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 in account, the stewards determined the appropriate penalty for this offence was a fine of $3000 with $1000 of this fine to be suspended for 12 months on the condition that Mr Anderson did not breach any prohibited substance rules in relation to the detection of arsenic in 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.
Acting under the provisions of HR 195, Simply Shaz NZ was disqualified from the race in question and the stewards directed the placings be amended accordingly, with commensurate implications for stake money.