Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – Trainer J Buckley
30 October 2023
Racing and Wagering Western Australia stewards conducted an inquiry on Tuesday 17 October 2023, into reports from the ChemCentre in Perth and the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (NSW) that pregabalin was detected in the sample taken from Reel Themoff, trained by Jayce Buckley, following it competing in and winning Race 1 at Pinjarra on 19 January 2023.
After hearing evidence from Mr Buckley, ChemCentre representative Ms E Cook, RWWA regulatory veterinarian Dr C McMullen and RWWA Senior Investigator Mr A Walton, Mr Buckley pleaded guilty to the following charge:
Australian Rule of Racing 240 (2) Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.
Particulars:
Particulars of the charge being that Mr Jayce Buckley, as the trainer, brought Reel Themoff to Pinjarra Racecourse on Thursday 19 January 2023, where it raced and won Race 1, with pregabalin, a prohibited substance on Prohibited List B, being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from Reel Themoff.
Having adjourned the inquiry to consider penalty, stewards determined to impose a penalty of three (3) months disqualification.
Further, acting under the provisions of AR 240 (1), Reel Themoff was disqualified as the winner of Race 1 at Pinjarra on 19 January 2023 and placings adjusted, with all relevant prize money to be returned and redistributed accordingly.
When determining penalty stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Buckley’s plea of guilty, personal circumstances and clean record over four (4) years as a licensed trainer.
- The intent and purpose of the rule, which was directed to ensuring a level playing field and maintaining the necessary confidence of those supporting or involved in the racing industry.
- The nature of the prohibited substance detected, namely that pregabalin is registered for human use only with analgesic (pain relieving) and other properties commonly prescribed to treat pain.
- There are no registered veterinary pharmaceuticals containing pregabalin.
- Mr Buckley’s stable management was not of an acceptable standard.
- The detection of substances intended primarily for human use which have no legitimate therapeutic use in racing horses was a serious matter that required a suitable penalty.
- Past penalties concerning other human only registered medications, particularly those that were not classified as anti-inflammatories, where the majority had resulted in disqualifications.