December 1, 2010

The Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Racing Appeals and Disciplinary (RAD) Board today heard matters in regards to charges issued by HRV Stewards under Australian Rule of Harness Racing (ARHR) 190(1) against licensed trainers Ms Mary-Jane Mifsud and Mrs Julie Mifsud.

ARHR 190(1) reads as follows:

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

The two charges issued by HRV Stewards under this rule against each of Ms Mary-Jane Mifsud and Mrs Julie Mifsud were a result of retrospective testing of stored samples conducted by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) at the request of HRV Stewards. RASL reported to HRV  Stewards that samples taken from horses trained by Ms Mary-Jane and Mrs Julie Mifsud were found to contain the prohibited substance aminocaproic acid.

Ms Mary-Jane Mifsud

Ms Mary-Jane Mifsud pleaded guilty to two charges issued under ARHR 190(1) relating to the following race day swab samples collected:

• Awesome Jasper competing in and winning race 7, the 'Rapidvite Warragul Pacing Cup' at Warragul on 12 April 2009.
• Sonny Park Lad competing in and winning race 2, the 'SEW-Eurodrive Claiming Pace' at Yarra Valley on 24 April 2009.

After considering submissions regarding penalty, the HRV RAD Board imposed a fine of $6,000 for each offence for Ms Mary-Jane Mifsud. Under ARHR 195, the HRV RAD Board ordered that Awesome Jasper and Sonny Park Lad be disqualified from their respective races and the  places amended accordingly. Under ARHR 200, the HRV RAD Board ordered that connections of the respective horses return all prizemonies and trophies won by the horses in the relevant races to HRV.

Mrs Julie Mifsud

Mrs Julie Mifsud pleaded guilty to two charges issued under ARHR 190(1) relating to the following race day swab samples collected:

• Cliona Lucky competing in and winning race 8, the 'Moama Bowling Club Claiming Pace' at Echuca on 11 April 2009.
• Jay Bee Aitch competing in and winning race 2, the 'Madden Claiming Pace' at Geelong on 15 April 2009.

After considering submissions regarding penalty, the HRV RAD Board imposed a fine of $10,000 for each offence for Mrs Julie Mifsud. Under ARHR 195, the HRV RAD Board ordered that Cliona Lucky and Jay Bee Aitch be disqualified from their respective races and the places amended accordingly.

Under ARHR 200, the HRV RAD Board ordered that connections of the respective horses return all prizemonies and trophies won by the horses in the relevant races to HRV.