Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – trainer Emma Aldersea (MACHERANO)
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards conducted an inquiry on Monday, 4 April into the report received from the Chem Centre in Perth that Dexamethasone, Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine had been detected in the post-race urine sample, taken from MASCHERANO after it won Race 5 at Pinjarra Park on 29 December 2021.
After hearing evidence from trainer Ms E Aldersea, ChemCentre representative Dr N Beckett, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Senior Investigative Steward Mr P Criddle, Ms Aldersea pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge 1
AR140 with the particulars being as the licensed trainer she did fail to record the treatments and medication of MASHCERANO by way of nebuliser treatments prior to it racing on 29 December 2021 within her required treatment records as specified within Rule 104.
Charge 2
AR240 (2) with the particulars being that “she was the licensed trainer of MASCHERANO when it was brought to race at Pinjarra Park on 29 December 2021, where it raced and won Race 5, with the prohibited substance dexamethasone being a Prohibited List B substance, being detected in the urine sample taken from that horse.
Charge 3
AR240 (2) with the particulars being that “she was the licensed trainer of MASCHERANO when it was brought to race at Pinjarra Park on 29 December 2021, where it raced and won Race 5, with the prohibited substance pseudoephedrine being a Prohibited List B substance, being detected in the urine sample taken from that horse
Charge 4
AR240 (2) with the particulars being that “she was the licensed trainer of MASCHERANO when it was brought to race at Pinjarra Park on 29 December 2021, where it raced and won Race 5, with the prohibited substance ephedrine being a Prohibited List B substance, being detected in the urine sample taken from that horse.
After adjourning to consider penalty the Stewards today determined to impose the following penalties;
Charge 1 a fine of $300
Charge 2 a suspension of 6 months
Charges 3 and 4 disqualifications of 12 months for each charge to be served concurrently
As the charges under AR240 (2) all arose from a single analysis of a single sample, the penalties issued were made concurrent and apply immediately. Accordingly, the total period of penalty that is to be served is twelve months disqualification in addition to the payment of the fine with respect to Charge 1.
In considering penalty Stewards took into account the following factors:
- The extent and level of her involvement in racing, which although she had only been licensed as a Thoroughbred trainer for a relatively short period of time she had maintained a blemish free record of involvement within the overall racing industry for a number of years
- Her guilty pleas to all charges
- The seriousness of the charges
- The nature of the substances detected which included the detection of substances considered to be stimulants and potentially performance enhancing (pseudoephedrine and ephedrine) in addition to the therapeutic substance (dexamethasone)
That the inquiry was not able to safely determine a reason for the presence of the substances
- The importance of animals being presented for races free of prohibited substances to ensure welfare and maintain a level playing field
- The potential for such matters to tarnish the image and reputation of racing.
- Past cases in relation to substances of this nature
Further, acting under AR 240(1) the Stewards determined to disqualify MASCHERANO from the race in question with the placings to be amended accordingly with the commensurate implications to all stake money and payments to apply.