Owner-breeder disqualified for six months

Press, 27 June 1987, Page 32

Owner-breeder disqualified for six months

PA Wellington

The Matamata ownerbreeder, Ronald Khan, was disqualified on Thursday for six months after a Racing Conference hearing in Wellington. The charges preferred by Racecourse Inspector, Mr B. F. McKenzie, against Khan related to him having supplied false information on the branding of two yearlings. The matter was heard by an executive sub-com-mittee of the conference, comprising Mr C. M. D. Kerr, chairman, Mr J. A. G. Fulton and Mr H. G. Higgle. Mr R. A. Houston, QC, of Hamilton, represented Khan. Mr McKenzie outlined to the committee how

Khan lodged branding slips with the' Keeper of the Stud Book for a 1985 bay colt by So Vain from El Candy and a 1985 bay filly by Schweppeshire Lad from Jean’s Pal when the horses had in fact not been branded. The So Vain colt, a brother to former topclass sprinter So Dandy, was entered for the 1987 National yearling sales at Trentham but was withdrawn when it was found, on inspection by conference officials, to be unbranded.

The Schweppeshire Lad filly was not branded until November, 1986, some seven months after Khan registered it with the racing conference as

branded. Houston submitted that it was always the intention of Khan to brand the horses but this had slipped his mind due to illness and his personal situation at the time.

The committee, noting Khan’s good character and accepting that there may have been mitigating circumstances, ' ruled, however, that Khan had acted illegally in lodging false branding slips with the Keeper of the Stud Book and thus disqualified him until midnight on December ... 24 (six months). He was also ordered to to pay $l5OO toward expenses incurred in the investigation and hearing.