On 30 May 2024, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered a charge issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer-driver Glenn Bull under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190(1).
AHRR 190(1) reads as follows:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse Very Tempting after it won Race 5, the “Garrard’s Horse and Hound Pace”, at the Kilmore harness racing meeting on 28 March 2023. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported the sample contained arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.
Mr Bull pleaded guilty to the charge before submissions on penalty were heard from Andrew Cusumano, on behalf of the HRV Stewards, and from Mr Bull.
Penalty
Mr Bull was fined $2000, with $1500 of that fine suspended for a period of 12 months.
The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, Very Tempting be disqualified from Race 5 at Kilmore on 28 March 2023 and that the placings be amended accordingly. Under AHRR 200(1) any prizemoney won by Very Tempting from the race is to be refunded to HRV.
VRT Panel: Justice Shane Marshall (Deputy Chairperson) and Dr June Smith.
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)