Harness Racing South Australia Stewards finalised an inquiry that was opened on 30 July 2015 into a report from Racing Analytical Services Ltd (RASL) that a blood sample taken from SIR ROBERTY BOB at Globe Derby on 25 July 2015 prior to it competing in Race 6, returned on initial screening an elevated total carbon dioxide (TCO2) concentration of 36.9 millimoles per litre.
RASL conducted further testing on this pre-race blood sample and reported a TCO2 level of 36 for the ‘A’ sample and 36.5 for the ‘B’ sample.
On 20 August 2015 and 24 August 2015 non-raceday blood samples were taken from SIR ROBERTY BOB with RASL reporting TCO2 levels of 33.4 and 31.1 respectively.
On 29 August 2015 a pre-race blood sample was taken from SIR ROBERTY BOB prior to it racing at Globe Derby. RASL reported the TCO2 level to be 31.9.
The inquiry resumed on 24 September 2015 and evidence was taken from trainer Rick Frearson regarding his feeding and husbandry practices together with details of his movements on 25 July 2015. Evidence was also taken from Veterinarian Dr. Roger Haensel which included that for a horse to return a TCO2 level of 36.9, 36 and 36.5, in his opinion, it would have received alkalising agents on raceday. Stewards submitted into evidence the pre-race TCO2 levels of SIR ROBERTY BOB dating back to 2010, the pre-race TCO2 levels of other horses currently in Rick Frearsons care and the average TCO2 levels of all horses tested in SA over the past 3 seasons, that being 30.99.
On 20 October 2015 the inquiry resumed and Rick Frearson was charged under Rule 193(3) which states:
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.
Stewards were mindful of Rule 193(6) which states:
for the purposes of this rule medication means any treatment with drugs or other substances.
The particulars being that Rick Frearson, as the trainer of SIR ROBERTY BOB has allowed or caused that horse to be administered a medication on raceday prior to the horse running in a race. Stewards are of the opinion that a trainer has an obligation under the rules to ensure his horses are safeguarded on raceday and he should take steps to prevent unauthorised administration on raceday and the days leading up to raceday.
In determining penalty stewards took into account Rick Frearson’s personal circumstances, his record as a trainer which included a previous offence for prohibited substances and his not guilty plea. Rick Frearson had his trainers licence suspended for 6 months.
Acting under Rule 193(5), stewards ordered that SIR ROBERTY BOB be disqualified from Race 6 at Globe Derby on 25 July 2015 and the placegetters be amended accordingly.
by Barbara Scott, Chair of Stewards