On 22 July 2021, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered five charges issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Rick Holmes under the following Australian Harness Racing Rules:
Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1), which states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.
The charge related to the horse ‘Laser Major’ which was presented to race by Mr Holmes at Mildura on 19 November 2020, when not free of alkalinising agents, a prohibited substance when evidenced by total carbon dioxide (TCO2) present at a concentration in excess of 36 millimoles per litre in plasma.
Charge 2 – AHRR 196C (1)(b), which states:
A person must not administer an alkalinising agent in any manner to a horse which is engaged to run in a race:
(b) at any time within one (1) clear day of the commencement of the race.
The charge related to Mr Holmes administering an alkalinising agent to the horse ‘Laser Major’ within one (1) clear day of its engagement at the Mildura harness racing meeting on 19 November 2020.
Charge 3 – AHRR 190B (1), which states;
A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a log book.
The charge related to Mr Holmes failing to keep and maintain a log book as required by the rules.
Charge 4 – AHRR, 190 (1), which states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances
The charge related to the horse ‘Laser Major’ which was presented by Mr Holmes to race at Mildura on 20 January 2021, when not free of Arsenic, a prohibited substance when evidenced at a level in excess of the allowable threshold.
Charge 5 – AHRR 190 (1) which states:
A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances
The charge related to the horse ‘Laser Major’ which was presented by Mr Holmes to race at Birchip on 7 March 2021, when not free of Arsenic, a prohibited substance when evidenced at a level in excess of the allowable threshold.
Mr Holmes pleaded guilty to all five charges before submissions on penalty were heard from the HRV Stewards and Mr Holmes.
Penalty
Charge 1 – 18-month suspension of all licences (6 months of which are suspended for a period of 18 months) to commence on 10 August 2021 at the end of a current suspension
Charge 2 – $2000 fine
Charge 3 – $250 fine
Charge 4 – $1000 fine (of which $500 is suspended for 12 months)
Charge 5 – $3000 fine (of which $1500 suspended for 12 months)
The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘Laser Major’ be disqualified from all races subject of these charges and that the placings be amended accordingly.
VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairperson) and Josh Bornstein
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)