27 Oct 2016 Disciplinary Panel - Other decisions

Tom George 

1. The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) held an enquiry on 27 October 2016 to consider whether or not Tom George, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule (C)33.3 of the Rules of Racing, in that prior to racing at Perth on 22 April 2016 a member of his staff on racecourse property, on his instruction, administered an unallowable substance other than normal feed and water to PARSNIP PETE.

2. Prior to the enquiry, both parties had agreed that they had no objection to the Panel members sitting and Mr George had requested that the matter be heard in his absence. The BHA had no objection and its case was presented by Lauren Robinson.

3. Miss Robinson informed the Panel that a member of Mr George’s staff, on his instruction, had administered PARSNIP PETE, trained by Mr George, SilvaPlex, a brand of chelated silver, which had been administered by nebuliser to the horse because he coughed. The Stewards on the day ordered PARSNIP PETE to be tested and to be withdrawn from the race. Confirmation has since been received from the laboratory that the samples that were taken had been reported negative for any prohibited substance, and having no wider integrity concerns, the breach of Rule (C)33.3 had been referred to the Panel.

4. The Panel noted a statement from Mr George that PARSNIP PETE was due to run at Perth on the Friday and his horses were all travelling together to the races on the previous Tuesday. Prior to his horses travelling to Perth his secretary had emailed and telephoned the Clerk of the Course to ask if a nebulizer with a sterile solution could be used in the stable yard. The yard were under the impression that they could use the nebulizer as long as it was not a prohibited substance, not realising that without the permission of the BHA Veterinary Officer, nothing other than normal food and water given by mouth could be administered on the day of the race.

5. The Panel accepted Mr George’s admission and found him in breach of Rule (C)33.3 and imposed a fine of £1,000. The Panel had taken into account that under no circumstances would permission have been granted by the BHA Veterinary Officer for the nebulizer to be used on the day of the race.

Susan Corbett

1. The Disciplinary Panel of the BHA held an enquiry on 27 October 2016 to consider whether or not Susan Corbett, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule (C)33.3 of the Rules of Racing, in that prior to racing at Perth on 30 June 2016 a member of her staff on racecourse property, on her instruction, administered an unallowable substance other than normal feed and water to STAY IN MY HEART (IRE) and BEAUTIFUL STORM.

2. Prior to the enquiry, both parties had agreed that they had no objection to the Panel members sitting and Mrs Corbett had requested that the matter be heard in her absence. The BHA had no objection and its case was presented by Lyn Williams.

3. Mr Williams informed the Panel that a member of Mrs Corbett’s staff, on her instruction, had administered STAY IN MY HEART (IRE) and BEAUTIFUL STORM, trained by Mrs Corbett, Restore-Lyte, a brand of electrolytes, which had been administered by syringe to both horses. The Stewards on the day ordered STAY IN MY HEART (IRE) and BEAUTIFUL STORM to be tested and to be withdrawn from their respective races. Confirmation has since been received from the laboratory that the samples that were taken had been reported negative for any prohibited substance, and having no wider integrity concerns, the breach of Rule (C)33.3 had been referred to the Panel.

4. The Panel noted that Mrs Corbett had stated that on arrival at the racecourse she had instructed her staff to give both horses a syringe of electrolytes as one horse was very nervous and had travelled badly and the other was sweating up after a difficult journey. She had been unaware that electrolytes could not be administered prior to the race.

5. The Panel accepted Mrs Corbett’s admission and found her in breach of Rule (C)33.3. The Panel took into account that it was electrolytes that were used, they were administered openly, they were administered for welfare concerns and permission would have been granted to use electrolytes after the race. The Panel imposed a fine of £750 upon her.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Panel for the enquiry was: Lucinda Cavendish (Chair), Jeremy Barlow and Edward Dorrell