POSITIVE SWAB OF TROTTER

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 4

POSITIVE SWAB OF TROTTER

Connexions Cleared In Inquiry (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 4. The horse Faro had morphine administered to it through a patent proprietary animal preparation before the running of the Vedette Handicap at the Cambridge Trotting Club’s meeting on March 30, an inquiry committee decided today. The committee was set up to investigate the positive swab taken from Faro, and today resolved unanimously that the horse did “have administered to it a drug, stimulant, or depressant capable of affecting its speed, stamina, courage, or conduct in the race.” Faro had been placed first in the race, Knight Commander second, and Sleek Line third. Knight Commander has now been placed first. Sleek Line second, and Elizabeth Derby third. The owners of Faro, Mr and Mrs L. V. Poynter, were ordered to refund the winning stake to the club. Official Statement The official statement released by the stipendiary steward (Mr A. W. Wallace) said that the trainer, L. V. Poynter, administered to the horse about nine hours and a half before the race a patent proprietary animal preparation, commonly known as Bells. His reason, he had said, was to prevent the horse from scouring during the journey from Cambridge. Bells had been used extensively by trainers for many years for the treatment of horses, and Poynter had no reason to believe that the preparation contained morphine, as this drug is not listed on the bottle or on the literature as one of its ingredients. In spite of this, an analysis of an unbroken bottle of Bells conclusively proved the presence of morphine. It was the unanimous decision of the committee that no action be taken against the owners, or against Mr Poynter in his capacity of trainer. The committee further commended both Mr and Mrs Poynter for the frank and truthful manner in which theyjgave their evidence, which has proved of great assistance to the committee. As a rider to the finding, the committee recommended to the Trotting Conference that steps be taken to give widespread publicity to the fact that the administration of Bells could, In certain circumstances, constitute a serious breach of the rules.