Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards have issued three (3) charges against licensed trainer Rick Holmes under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1), 196C(1)(b) and 190B.
Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1), which states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
It is alleged that Mr Holmes presented the horse ‘Laser Major’ to race at Mildura on 19 November 2020 when not free of alkalinising agents, a prohibited substance when evidenced by total carbon dioxide (TCO2) present at a concentration in excess of 36 millimoles per litre in plasma.
Charge 2 – AHRR 196C (1)(b), which states:
A person must not administer an alkalinising agent in any manner to a horse which is engaged to run in a race:
(b) at any time within one (1) clear day of the commencement of the race.
It is alleged that Mr Holmes administered an alkalinising agent to the horse ‘Laser Major’ within one (1) clear day of its engagement at the Mildura harness racing meeting on 19 November 2020.
A further charge under AHRR 190B(1) relates to Mr Holmes failing to keep and maintain a log book as required by the rules.
The charges will be heard by the Victoria Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.