On 1 March 2024, the Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) considered a charge issued by Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards against licensed trainer Wayne Potter under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190(1), which states:

A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse ‘The Locomotive’ after it won Race 1, the ‘Aldebaran Park Dancinginthedark M Vicbred Super Series (2YO Trotting Colts & Geldings) (1st Heat)’, at the Maryborough harness racing meeting on 19 December 2022. Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) reported that the sample contained tapentadol.

Mr Potter pleaded guilty to the charge before submissions on penalty were heard on behalf of the HRV Stewards and Damian Sheales, on behalf of Mr Potter.

Penalty

Mr Potter was subsequently fined $2000, with $1500 of that fine suspended for a period of 12 months.

The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, ‘The Locomotive’ be disqualified from Race 1 at Maryborough on 19 December 2022 and that the placings be amended accordingly.

Further to that, AHRR 195A had application in this matter, in that due to the urine sample collected from ‘The Locomotive’ at Maryborough on 19 December 2022 being certified as containing a prohibited substance from a qualifying race, then the horse shall be immediately disqualified from participating in any other race for which the race in question provided a qualification for participation. Therefore, the VRT also ordered that ‘The Locomotive’ be disqualified from Race 2, the ‘Aldebaran Park Dancinginthedark M Vicbred Super Series (2YO Trotting Colts & Geldings) Final Group 1’, at the Melton harness racing meeting on 31 December 2022 and that the placings be amended accordingly due to ‘The Locomotive’ qualifying for this race at Melton from the race in question at Maryborough on 19 December 2022.

As a result, AHRR 200(1) had application in this matter, in that any prizemoney won by ‘The Locomotive’ from the races in question and paid out to connections be refunded or returned to HRV.

VRT Panel: Judge John Bowman (Chairperson).

 

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)