On 2 May 2018, the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board considered five charges issued against formerly licensed person Andrew Jordan under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1), 187(2), 239A and 190B.
Charge 1, under AHRR 190(1) which states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances
The particulars of this charge related to a post-race urine sample collected from the horse ‘Staress’ at Cranbourne on 30 April 2017. ‘Staress’ finished first in Race 8, the ‘Blue Hills Rise Pace’. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that analysis of the urine sample revealed the sample to contain a prohibited substance, namely cobalt, above the allowable threshold of 100 micrograms per litre (µg/L). The reserve sample analysis by the Racing Science Centre (Qld) confirmed the result.
Charge 2 and 3, under AHRR 187(2) which states:
A person shall not refuse to answer questions or to produce a horse, document, substance or piece of equipment, or give false or misleading evidence or information at an inquiry or investigation
The particulars of Charge 2 were that Mr Jordan provided evidence that he was not in possession of any injectable treatments, which was evidence he knew to be false.
The particulars of Charge 3 were that Mr Jordan provided evidence that he did not administer any injectable treatments to ‘Staress’, which was evidence he knew to be false.
Charge 4, under AHRR 239A which states:
A person whose conduct or negligence has led or could lead to a breach of the rules is guilty of an offence.
The particulars of this charge related to Mr Jordan’s conduct in allowing unlicensed person, Mrs Gaita Pullicino, to be responsible for the purchase and preparation of injectable treatments for horses in his care, including ‘Staress’.
Charge 5, under AHRR 190B, related to Mr Jordan’s failure to keep and maintain a log book as required.
Mr Jordan was represented at the hearing by Mr Tony Nolan QC, and pleaded guilty to all of the charges. Ms Amy Wood appeared for the HRV Stewards.
Ms Wood and Mr Nolan addressed the Board in relation to penalty and other matters. By consent, the particulars to charge 4 contained in paragraph 3 were removed.