Owner Disqualified For Five Years

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30887, 21 October 1965, Page 5

Owner Disqualified For Five Years

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. The owner-trainer of the racehorse Up And Under, Mr T. L. Edwards, of Rotorua, has been disqualified for five years. This was the decision reached yesterday by the executive committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference.

The committee said it had heard certain charges relating to Up And Under preferred against Mr Edwards by its racecourse inspector, C. Dudley.

In a statement released after the hearing the committee said; “Mr Edwards was charged under the corrupt practice rule with having administered Adrenaline to the horse for the purpose of affecting its speed, stamina, courage or conduct in the Waipatu Handicap at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s meeting at Hastings on January 1, 1965. “He was also charged under the corrupt practice rule with having administered Caffeine to the horse for the same purpose in respect of it’s race in the S. C. Tonks Memorial Hack Plate at the Egmont Racing Club’s meeting at Hawera on June 26, 1965. “In the alternative he was charged with failing to take all proper precautions to prevent the administration of caffeine to the horse at that time. The committee also had to consider whether the horse should be disqualified for the race which it had won at Hawera.

“Evidence was given that the horse had not been swabbed after running third in the Waioatu Handicap at Hastings on New Year’s Day but the committee heard evidence from two racecourse insnectors, C. Dudley and W. C. Harper, that in discussions they had had with Edwards at Rotorua he had admitted to them that he had administered Adrenalline to the horse on the night before it raced at Hastings on New Year’s Day. “Evidence was also given by the racecourse inspectors that an empty carton which had previously contained bottles of Adrenaline was found in the vicinity of Mr Edwards’ stables at Rotorua and that an unused bottle of Adrenaline and a hypodermic syringe had been found in the lining of the walls of the horse’s box at Rotorua. “In his evidence in relation to this charge, Mr Edwards said that the inspectors had misinterpreted the conversation which he had had with them. What in fact had happened, was that he had given the horse Adrenaline on the night before it left his stables at Rotorua to travel to Hastings. "He said that Adrenaline had been administered to the horse on that occasion only and that he did not intend it to affect its performance in the race at Hastings. He said that it was administered for the purpose of curing a cold from which the horse was then suffering.” “Evidence was given that after the horse had won the Tonks Plate at Hawera it underwent a routine swabbing. The analyst detected the presence of Caffeine and Theobromine in the urine sample taken from the horse. He did not detect either of those drugs in the saliva. “The analyst gave evidence that the amount of caffeine which was present in the sample was the highest which he had encountered. “The racecourse inspectors

gave evidence that when they interviewed Mr Edwards at his home and advised him of the positive return he denied that he had ever used caffeine or anything which contained caffeine.

“The racecourse inspectors took possession of a plastic bucket and an enamel bowl which Mr Edwards said had been used in the course of his feeding the horse while it was at Hawera. They also took possession of a sample from the horse’s feed box at Rotorua. “Another racecourse inspector travelled to Hawera and took a sample of the feed which remained in the box that had been used by the horse while it was stabled at Hawera.

The samples of feed referred to, the plastic bucket and the enamel bowl and also a spoon found at Mr Edwards's place all contained caffeine according to evidence given by the analyst. “The committee also heard evidence from a number of other witnesses who were called by the prosecution.

“Mr Edwards in his evidence, again denied that he had ever fed Caffeine or, to the best of his knowledge, anything containing Caffeine to the horse. He was unable to explain how it could have been found either in the articles taken to Hawera or in his own box at Rotorua. “The committee held: (a) That the charge in relation to the administration of adrenalin be dismissed, (b) That Mr Edwards be found guilty as charged under the corrupt practice rule in respect of the Caffeine, (c) That the horse be disqualified from the Tonks Plate. “They ordered that Mr Edwards be disqualified for five years. “Mr M. J. O’Brien appeared for Edwards aid Mr T. F. Fookes for racecourse inspector C. Dudley, who brought the matter before the committee.

Scratchings

Gold Find has been scratched for the North Canterbury Handicap at Rangiora tomorrow.

Scratchings for the second day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting at Trentham on Saturday include: Rimutaka Handiicap: Karent.

Awatea Handicap: Cantus, Hush aw ay.