Thoroughbred stewards’ inquiry – Trainer Michael Grantham
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards concluded the inquiry into reports from ChemCentre in Perth and the Racing Analytical Services Laboratory (Vic) that arsenic in excess of the threshold of 0.30 milligrams/L has been detected in the post-race urine samples taken from:
- Antique Miss – following its win in Race 6 at Ascot on 27 January 2024.
- Antique Miss – following its win in Race 7 at Bunbury on 10 February 2024.
- Citino – following its win in Race 9 at Pinjarra on 11 February 2024.
After hearing evidence from trainer Mr Grantham, ChemCentre representative Dr N Beckett, RWWA Head of Veterinary Services Dr J Medd and RWWA Investigator Mr B Bird, Mr Grantham pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Charge 1 Australian Rule of Racing 240 (2) Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.
Particulars: That Mr Grantham, as the trainer, presented the 4-year-old mare Antique Miss to race at Ascot on 27 January 2024, where it raced and won Race 6, with arsenic at a level in excess of 0.30 milligrams/l in urine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from the mare.
Charge 2 Australian Rule of Racing 240 (2) Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.
Particulars: That Mr Grantham, as the trainer, presented the 4-year-old mare Antique Miss to race at Bunbury on 10 February 2024 where it raced and won Race 7, with arsenic at a level in excess of 0.30 milligrams/l in urine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from the mare.
Charge 3 Australian Rule of Racing 240 (2) Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting.
Particulars: That Mr Grantham, as the trainer, presented the 4-year-old gelding Citino to race at Pinjarra on 11 February 2024 where it raced and won Race 9, with arsenic at a level in excess of 0.30 mlligrams/l in urine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from the gelding.
Stewards determined to impose a fine of $2000 on each charge, thus totalling $6000 in fines.
Further acting under the provisions of AR 240 (1) Antique Miss and Citino were disqualified as the winners of their respective races and placings adjusted accordingly, with all relevant prize money to be returned and redistributed accordingly.
When determining penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Grantham guilty pleas to all charges.
- Mr Grantham’s clear record in relation to prohibited substance detection over some four (4) years as a licensed trainer.
- The circumstances of this matter, where Mr Grantham has an extensive number of arsenic-treated posts at his training establishment and there was unambiguous evidence that the horses in question ingested arsenic treated timber in their yard, shown by partially chewed posts.
- Mr Grantham was in the process of installing electrified fencing to all yards.
- The stewards were satisfied that the reported levels of arsenic were consistent with the horses in question ingesting part of the treated posts.
- There were no products on Mr Grantham’s training establishment containing arsenic.
- Precedence in relation to past similar matters and that 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.