February 25, 2011

The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board today heard a matter in regards to charges issued by HRV Stewards under Australian Rule of Harness Racing (ARHR) 190(1) and ARHR 196A (1) (ii) against licensed trainer Mr Austin Mifsud.

ARHR 190(1) reads as follows:

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

ARHR 196A (1)(ii) reads as follows:

A person shall not administer or cause to be administered to a horse any prohibited substance which is detected in any sample taken from such horse prior to or following the running of any race.

The two charges issued by HRV Stewards under these rules against Mr Austin Mifsud were as a result of retrospective testing of a stored sample conducted by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) at the request of HRV Stewards. RASL reported to HRV Stewards that a sample taken from the Austin Mifsud trained horse 'The Alberts' at Ballarat on 6 March 2009 was found to contain the prohibited substance aminocaproic acid.

Mr Mifsud pleaded guilty to the two charges issued under ARHR 190(1) and ARHR 196A(1)(ii). After considering submissions regarding penalty, the HRV RAD Board imposed a 6 months suspension of Mr Mifsud's training licence with respect to each charge, ordering that the suspensions be served concurrently and that the suspension be effective immediately. In addition to this suspension, the HRV RAD Board imposed a fine of $10,000.

Under ARHR 195, the HRV RAD Board ordered that 'The Alberts' be disqualified from Race 3 conducted at Ballarat on 6 March 2009, the Ballarat Assoc.  Fibrous Plasters Pace, and that the places be amended accordingly. Under ARHR 200, the HRV RAD Board ordered that connections of 'The Alberts' return all relevant prizemonies won by the horse to HRV immediately.