Racing WA stewards have concluded their inquiry into the report received from ChemCentre in Perth that arsenic at a concentration above 0.30 micrograms/millilitre in urine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from Ronald Scott after it won Race 5 at Pinjarra on 25 November 2024.
After hearing evidence from trainer S Gaebler, ChemCentre analyst Dr B Dorakumbura and Racing WA Regulatory Veterinarian Dr C McMullen, trainer S Gaebler pleaded guilty to a charge under HRR 190 (1), (2) and (4).
Particulars:
“That Mr Shane Gaebler, as the trainer, presented Ronald Scott to race at Pinjarra on 25 November 2024 where the gelding raced and won Race 5, not free of the prohibited substance arsenic, as evidenced by a concentration of arsenic above 0.30 micrograms per millilitre in urine being detected in a post-race urine sample taken from Ronald Scott.”
Regarding penalty, stewards considered, among other things:
- Mr Gaebler’s acknowledgement of the breach as evidenced by his guilty plea and his personal circumstances.
- Mr Gaebler’s clean record in relation to prohibited substance rules.
- The circumstances of this matter, where Mr Gaebler had a number of arsenic-treated posts at his training establishment and there was unambiguous evidence that Ronald Scott ingested arsenic treated timber in its yard, shown by partially chewed posts.
- The stewards were satisfied that the reported levels of arsenic were consistent with the horse in question ingesting part of the treated pine posts.
- There were no products on Mr Gaebler’s training establishment containing arsenic.
- Precedence in relation to past similar matters and that any penalty required a deterrent factor, both specific and general.
- Previous warnings to participants that future action taken by the stewards in matters relating to the presentation of horses with arsenic levels which exceed the threshold may result in penalties being imposed, regardless of any evidence relating to the ingestion of treated timber products.
- Despite warnings being issued, offences in relation to the detection of arsenic are continuing to occur, which requires suitable penalties to further encourage all trainers to take appropriate precautions to prevent horses exceeding the prescribed level.
Taking all matters in account, stewards determined the appropriate penalty for the offence under HRR 190(1), (2) and (4) was a fine of $2000.
Acting under the provisions of HR 195, Ronald Scott was disqualified from the race in question and the stewards directed the placings be amended accordingly, with commensurate implications to prizemoney.