On 1 March 2024, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered a charge issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer-driver Paddy Lee 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 Keayang Xena after it won Race 7, the “Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Trotting Mares Sprint Championship Final”, at the Melton harness racing meeting on 3 February 2023. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported the sample contained the prohibited substance dexamethasone.
Mr Lee pleaded guilty to the charge before submissions on penalty were made by Andrew Cusumano, on behalf of the HRV Stewards, and by Damian Sheales, on behalf of Mr Lee.
Penalty
Mr Lee was fined $6000, with $5000 of that fine suspended for a period of 12 months.
The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, Keayang Xena be disqualified from Race 7 at Melton on 3 February 2023 and that the placings be amended accordingly.
VRT Panel: Judge Marilyn Harbison (Deputy Chairperson) and Judge Julie Nicholson.
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)