Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – Trainer Duncan Wilson
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 millligrams/litre in urine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from The Republican after it competed in and won Race 7 at Pinjarra Racecourse on 3 August 2023.
Following evidence from trainer Duncan Wilson, owner B Wilson, ChemCentre Analyst E Cook, RWWA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen and RWWA Senior Investigative Steward P Criddle, Mr Wilson pleaded guilty to the following charge:
AR 240 (2) Particulars:
That you Mr Duncan Wilson, as the trainer, presented The Republican to race at the Pinjarra Race Club meeting on 3 August 2023, where the gelding raced and won Race 7 with arsenic at a level in excess of 0.30 milligrams/litre in urine being detected in a post-race sample taken from The Republican.
Regarding the penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Wilson’s acknowledgement of the offence as evidenced by his guilty plea and his personal circumstances.
- Mr Wilson’s unblemished record in relation to prohibited substance rules over a considerable period of time.
- The circumstances of this matter, where Mr Wilson had several arsenic-treated posts at his training establishment and there was unambiguous evidence that The Republican had ingested arsenic-treated timber in its yard, evidenced by partially chewed posts.
- The low levels of arsenic detected and that the stewards were satisfied the reported levels of arsenic were consistent with the horse in question ingesting part of the treated posts.
- There were no products on Mr Wilison’s training establishment containing arsenic.
- Precedents in relation to past similar matters and that any penalty required a deterrent factor.
- Despite warnings being issued, offences in relation to the detection of arsenic are continuing to occur and there was 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.
Taking all matters into account, the stewards determined the appropriate penalty for this offence was a fine of $2000.
Acting under the provisions of AR 240 (1) The Republican was disqualified from the race in question.
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.