The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board today considered a charge issued against licensed trainer Alison Chisholm under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190(1), that states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances
The charge related to a post-race urine sample collected from the horse ‘Jimmy The Editor NZ’ after it won Race 10, the ‘tab.com.au Pace Final’, at Tabcorp Park Melton on 16 April 2016. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that analysis of the urine sample revealed the sample to contain a prohibited substance, namely cobalt, at a level of 285 micrograms per litre (µg/L), which is above the allowable threshold (at the time) of 200 µg/L in urine.
The HRV RAD board considered statements of Investigative Steward Mr Neal Conder, RASL Scientific Manager Mr Paul Zahra and Veterinary Pharmacologist Professor Paul Mills.
Mrs Chisholm pleaded guilty to the charge, before the HRV RAD Board heard submissions on penalty from the HRV Stewards, Mrs Chisholm and Mrs Chisholm’s representatives, Kevin Chisholm and Dr Kip Gabriel.
In determining penalty, the HRV RAD Board considered Mrs Chisholm’s 20-year involvement in the industry with an excellent offence record overall despite a single relevant prior prohibited substance offence; both specific and general deterrence; and consistency of penalty in relation to cobalt cases. In considering all of these circumstances the HRV RAD Board imposed a 12-month suspension of Mrs Chisholm’s trainers licence. The HRV RAD Board ordered the suspension to commence at midnight on Monday 29 May 2017.
The HRV RAD Board also ordered that ‘Jimmy The Editor NZ’ be disqualified from Race 10 at Tabcorp Park Melton on 16 April 2016 and that the placings be amended accordingly.
…………………………………………
The Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board (RADB) is established under section 50B of the Racing Act (1958). The RADB is an independent Board established to hear and determine appeals in relation to decisions made under the rules to impose penalties on persons and to hear and determine charges made against persons for serious offences