On 16 December 2020, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered 8 charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Ricky Ryan under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1), 235B(1), 190B, 187(2), 187(3) and 231(1).
Charges 1, 2 and 3 were issued under AHRR 190(1), which reads:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
Charge 1 related to a blood sample collected from ‘Yankee Redback’ after it won Race 3 at the Stawell harness racing meeting on 23 May 2019. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that analysis of the sample revealed that it contained cobalt, a prohibited substance when present at a concentration in excess of 25µg/L in plasma.
Charge 2 related to blood and urine samples obtained from ‘Rose Cooper’ prior to that horse competing in Race 9 at the Kilmore harness racing meeting on 20 June 2019. RASL reported that both the blood and urine samples contained cobalt, a prohibited substance when present at a concentration in excess 25µg/L in plasma and 100µg/L in urine.
Charge 3 related to blood and urine samples obtained from ‘Yankee Redback prior to that horse competing in Race 11 at the Kilmore harness racing meeting on 20 June 2019. RASL reported that both the blood and urine samples contained cobalt, a prohibited substance when present at a concentration in excess 25µg/L in plasma and 100µg/L in urine.
Charge 4 was issued under AHRR 235B(1), which reads:
A trainer shall not place a bet on another horse in a race in which he has a starter.
The particulars of this charge were that Mr Ryan placed a $500 all-up bet on ‘Youaremy Sunshine (Race 1) and Yankee Redback (Race 3) at the Stawell harness racing meeting on 23 May 2019 when he had ‘Crompton Bay’, a horse he trains, engaged in Race 1.
Charge 5 was issued under AHRR 190B(1), which reads:
A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a log book
The particulars of this charge were that, when inspected by HRV Stewards on 20 June 2019 and 23 July 2019, the log book maintained by Mr Ryan failed to adequately list and record the regular administration of substances that Mr Ryan admitted made up his treatment regime.
Charge 6 was issued under AHRR 187(2), which reads:
A person shall not refuse to answer questions or to produce a horse, document, substance or piece of equipment, or give false or misleading evidence or information at an inquiry or investigation.
The particulars of this charge relate to the evidence provided by Mr Ryan to the HRV Stewards on 20 June 2019 and 23 July 2019 which was misleading in that it failed to disclose all the details of his treatment regime.
Charge 7 was issued under AHRR 187(3), which reads:
A person shall comply with an order or direction given by the Stewards.
The particulars of this charge are that Mr Ryan failed to provide any receipts or account details for the purchase of products Vitamin B12 and VAM when directed to do so by HRV Stewards.
Charge 8 was issued under AHRR 231(1)(c), which reads:
231(1) A person shall not:-
(c) intimidate
anyone employed, engaged or participating in the harness racing industry or otherwise having a connection with it.
The particulars of this charge relate to events at Tabcorp Park Melton on 27 July 2019 when Mr Ryan was escorted from the Scotch Notch Café and subsequently made intimidating comments to Tabcorp Park Melton staff, including CEO Gayle Harvey.
Mr Ryan was represented by Lance Justice at the hearing and pleaded guilty to all charges.
Penalty
On 16 December 2020, after considering submissions from Andrew Cusumano for HRV and Lance Justice for Mr Ryan, the VRT reserved its decision as to the appropriate penalties to be imposed.
On Friday 8 January 2021, the VRT handed down its decision on penalty.
Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1) – Cobalt - 6 month suspension
Charge 2 – AHRR 190(1) – Cobalt - 12 month suspension, cumulative to charge 1.
Charge 3 – AHRR 190(1) – Cobalt - 12 month suspension, wholly concurrent with charge 2, but not cumulative on charge 1.
(Note: Effective suspension of 18 months of any licence on charges 1-3.)
Charge 4 – AHRR 235B(1) – Trainer betting on other horse in same race - $1500 fine
Charge 5 – AHRR 190B – Log book - $200 fine
Charge 6 – AHRR 187(2) – Misleading evidence - 2 month suspension, wholly suspended for 2 years.
Charge 7 – AHRR 187(3) – Failing to comply with Stewards direction - 2 month suspension, wholly suspended for 2 years.
Charge 8 – AHRR 231(1) – Intimidating staff at Tabcorp Park Melton - $300 fine
The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘Yankee Redback’ be disqualified from Race 3 at Stawell on 23 May 2019 and Race 11 at Kilmore on 20 June 2019; ‘Rose Cooper’ be disqualified from Race 9 at Kilmore on 20 June 2019; that the placings be amended accordingly in each respective race; and that all prizemoney be returned to HRV in accordance with AHRR 200.
VRT Panel: Magistrate John Doherty (Chairman) and Greg Childs
The written decisions of the VRT can be found here.
(Please note that VRT Decisions will generally be published within 7-10 days of the date of hearing)