A former leading harness racing trainer banned for doping his horses with methamphetamines will face trial next year charged with dealing commercial quantities of the drug.
Michael “Joe” Buttigieg has pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in a controlled drug and one count of trafficking a commercial quantity of amphetamines.
The offences allegedly occurred at Parafield Gardens and Globe Derby Park in June 2015.
Buttigieg, of Port Macdonnell in the state’s southeast, was disqualified from training for two years in 2014 after two of his pacers tested positive to methamphetamine. The 62-year old was known for his excellent winning strike rate with his small team of horses and has previously won the metropolitan trainers award. In 2006, he became the first country trainer to claim the South Australian state trainers premiership.
The horses — Go Go Shikari and Aveross Mac — were found to have methamphetamine in their bloodstreams after winning races at Port Pirie and Globe Derby in May and June 2014.
Buttigieg was disqualified from training for two years and his stable foreman, Dean Girardi was banned for six months by Harness Racing South Australia stewards.
Stewards said they were mindful of Buttigieg’s repeated offending and noted that methamphetamine was “an illegal drug and has no place in the equine industry”.
The disqualification is set to end next month but it is unknown whether Buttigieg will seek to renew his licence.
Buttigieg was this week remanded on continuing bail to face trial in the District Court in June next year.
If found guilty of "the trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs charge", Buttigieg faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison.
By Andrew Dowdell
Reprinted with permission of The Advertiser
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