The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board today considered charges issued against licensed trainer Mr Shane Osborn under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1), 193(3), 190B and 90A(2.9)(a).
Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1) reads as follows:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
The charge under AHRR 190(1) related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘Shaka The Baker’ after it finished second in Race 1, the ‘DNR Logistics Pace, at the Mildura harness racing meeting on 11 January 2017. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that analysis of that urine sample revealed the sample to contain arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.
Charge 2 – AHRR 193(3) reads as follows:
A person shall not administer or allow or cause to be administered any medication to a horse on race day prior to such horse running in a race.
The charge under AHRR 193(3) related to Mr Osborn’s race day administration of Stamazene and Carbalene to ‘Shaka The Baker’ on race day prior to that horse competing in Race 1 at Mildura on 11 January 2017.
Charge 3 – AHRR 190B(1) reads as follows:
A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a log book
The particulars of this charge related to the stable inspection conducted on 8 February 2017 by HRV Stewards, when Mr Osborn was found not to keep and maintain a logbook as required.
Charge 4 – AHRR 90A(2.9)(a) reads as follows:
The holder of a trainer’s licence shall ensure that all persons carrying out the activities of stable hands are licensed as stable hands.
This charge related to Mr Osborn not ensuring that Sharon Osborn was appropriately licensed when carrying out the activities of a stablehand by presenting ‘Shaka The Baker’ for a post-race swab.
During the investigation Mr Osborn stated that he did not use any arsenic based preparation and gave evidence that ‘Shaka The Baker’ had been chewing pine fence posts. Subsequent analysis of those fence posts revealed them to contained arsenic at levels consistent with Copper Chromium Arsenic (CCA) treated timber.
Mr Osborn pleaded guilty to all charges.
After considering submissions on penalty, including Mr Osborn’s early guilty plea, his previous record over a long involvement in the industry and his own personal circumstances, the HRV RAD Board imposed a $1500 fine, which was fully suspended for a period of 12 months.
Acting under AHRR 195, the HRV RAD Board also formally ordered that ‘Shaka The Baker’ be disqualified from Race 1 at Mildura on 11 January 2017, and that the placings be amended accordingly.
In relation to the charge under AHRR 193(3), which concerned race day treatment, Mr Osborn was fined $500.
Mr Osborn was also fined a further $250, being that that he failed to keep and maintain a log book.
The fourth and final charge, under AHRR 90A(2.9)(a), being that as a trainer he failed to ensure a person carrying out activities of a stablehand was licensed as a stablehand, Mr Osborn was fined $200.
Harness Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board