On 20 May 2021, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered the charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer-driver Amy Crossland under Australian Harness Racing Rules (AHRR) 190(1) and 119C(1).
Charge 1 was issued under AHRR 190(1), which reads as follows:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
This charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘Officially Shady’ after it won Race 9 at the Cranbourne harness racing meeting on 18 October 2020. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported the sample contained arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.
Charge 2 was issued under AHRR 119C(1), which reads as follows:
A trainer shall not without the prior approval of the Stewards stable any horse trained by him in any location other than any registered training establishment of the trainer.
This charge related to Ms Crossland stabling the horses ‘Illawong Champers’, ‘Jolted Journey’, ‘Jumpingjackhanover’ and ‘Officially Shady’ at a location other than her registered training establishment without approval of the Stewards.
Ms Crossland pleaded guilty to both charges before submissions on penalty were heard from the HRV Stewards and Ms Crossland.
Penalty
Charge 1 - $2000 fine, with $1500 of that fine suspended for a period of 12 months.
Charge 2 - $500 fine
The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘Officially Shady’ be disqualified from Race 9 at Cranbourne on 18 October 2020 and that the placings be amended accordingly.
VRT Panel: Judge Graeme Hicks (Chairman) and Judy Bourke.
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)