Regal Jester is disqualified

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 1 (Supplement)

Regal Jester is disqualified

Regal Jester, which returned a pustive swab to the drug caffeine after winning the South Canterbury Jockey Club's Otaio Maiden Stakes on July 3, has been disqualified for that race. But the trainers of the horse, A E and L. G. Didham. have been found not guilty of the changes brought against them under Rule 104 (2) of the Rules of Racing. The placings for the Otaio Maiden Stakes have been amended to. Swift Mellay 1, The Nong 2. Prince Causeur 3. Loch cruin 4. A sub-committee of the Can terbury District Committee, in announcing the disqualification yesterday. said it was satisfied from the evidence submitted that the trainers of Regal Jeeter had both taken all proper pre. autions to prevent the ad mo Ist ration of the drug caffe ne No evidence had been submit ted as to the means by which the obtained access to the d*~ug Rut the sub-committee added “It was apparent that both security and ue amines* of

the boxes for visiting horses left much to be desired.”

Members of the sub-committee. Messrs W. S. L. Mcßae (chairman) P G. South, and J. A G. Pulton, expressed concern yesterday that there had been alterations to the swabbing procedure# over the past two years but the notices posted on the swabbing clinic at Washdyke had not been amended accordingly In this case, they said, the swabbing officials had failed to comfilete the swabbing card regardng the identification of the canister which the owners received. Ribeiro sold Ribeiro, the winner of six races on the Rat, has joined the Wingatul stable of Hector Anderton, tun , to be prepared as s jumper rhe elrht-year-old Ribotlignt— Vivien Robe gelding, has been bought by Mr T. Clouston, of MnsgtH from Messrs T. Williams and T Lalor, of Greymouth, who had him with the Ashburton trainer, Jun Lalor.