On 29 August 2023, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Lindsay Rogers 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.

Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1)

The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘Lester’ after it won Race 9, the ‘Tandem Earthmoving Pace’, at the Maryborough harness racing meeting on 16 October 2022. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported the sample contained arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.

Charge 2 – AHRR 190(1)

The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘Lester’ prior to finishing fifth in Race 4, the ‘Rich River Golf Club Pace’, at the Melton harness racing meeting on 25 November 2022. RASL reported the sample contained arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.

Charge 3 – AHRR 190(1)

The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘Lester’ after it won Race 2, the ‘Southern Cross Feeds Pace’, at the Geelong harness racing meeting on 26 December 2022. RASL reported the sample contained arsenic in excess of the allowable threshold.

Mr Rogers pleaded guilty to the charges before submissions on penalty were heard from the HRV Stewards and Mr Rogers.

Penalties

The following penalties were imposed:

Charge 1:   $2000 fine; with $1500 suspended for a period of 12 months.

Charge 2:   $2000 fine; wholly suspended for a period of 12 months.

Charge 3:   $2000 fine; wholly suspended for a period of 12 months.

The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘Lester’ be disqualified from Race 9 at Maryborough on 16 October 2022; Race 4 at Melton on 25 November 2022; and Race 2 at Geelong on 26 December 2022, and that the placings be amended accordingly.

Further to that, the VRT ordered that under AHRR 200(1) any prizemoney won by ‘Lester’ from the respective races be refunded to HRV.

VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairperson) and Ms Heidi Keighran.

 

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)