On 7 May 2021, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered a charge issued by the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer-driver Reece Moore 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 ‘Artegra’ after it won Race 4, the ‘Tenderprint Australia Pace Final’, at the Mildura harness racing meeting on 31 July 2020. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported the sample contained the prohibited substances capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin.

Mr Moore pleaded guilty to the charge, before submissions on penalty were heard from the HRV Stewards and Lance Justice, of behalf of Mr Moore.

Penalty

Mr Moore was fined $3000, of which $1500 was suspended for 12 months.

The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘Artegra’ be disqualified from Race 4 at Mildura on 31 July 2020 and that the placings be amended accordingly.

 

VRT Panel: Justice Shane Marshall (Chairman) 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)