Harness Stewards Inquiry – Trainers Greg & Skye Bond (OCEAN RIDGE)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Stewards have finalised an inquiry into the report from the ChemCentre in Perth that arsenic at a concentration in excess of 30 micrograms per millilitre, being the threshold prescribed in the Harness Rules of Racing, had been detected in a urine sample taken from OCEAN RIDGE at Gloucester Park on 28 February 2020, after it competed and finished first in Race 7.
At the inquiry evidence was heard from:
- Dr J. Medd – RWWA Industry Veterinarian
- & S. Bond – trainers of OCEAN RIDGE
Mr and Mrs Bond pleaded guilty to a charge under Harness Rule of Racing 190(1), (2) and (4) with the particulars being:
Particulars
That as trainers, they have presented OCEAN RIDGE to race at Gloucester Park on 28 February 2020 where it competed and finished first, not free of the prohibited substance arsenic, evidence by a concentration of arsenic at a level in excess of 30 micrograms per millilitre in urine.
After considering penalty, stewards determined to impose a fine of $2,000.
In determining penalty stewards took into account several factors including;
- Mr & Mrs Bond’s co-operation and acknowledgement of all offences by way of their guilty pleas.
- Their offence record which shows this is their second offence for arsenic.
- That in relation to OCEAN RIDGE, the stewards were satisfied that the reported level of arsenic was likely to have arisen due to ingestion of CCA treated timber from a small retaining wall/horse jump within the paddock of OCEAN RIDGE.
- The extensive efforts and precautions previously taken by the training partnership in response to the identified and well publicised risks, which included the removal of the majority of CCA treated timber fencing at a cost in excess of $100,000.
- Past cases in relation to arsenic and the need to issue a penalty of suitable deterrence, both general and specific, that promotes appropriate measures to respond to this known issue of CCA timbers in training environments for which several warnings have already been issued. As previously advised, trainers are obliged to take adequate measures in response to the now well publicised risks involving horses having access to CCA treated timber
Further acting under Harness Rule of Racing 195, OCEAN RIDGE was disqualified from the race in question with placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications for all stake money and payments to apply.