Six trainers are to face a disciplinary hearing after horses in their care tested positive for morphine.
Contaminated feed
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA)believes seven of the horses involved were give a contaminated batch of Dodson & Horrell Alfalfa Oil Plus. It also statedthe trainers took “all reasonable precautions to avoid breaching the rules of racing”.
The horses
Two horses trained by Sir Michael Stoute tested positive at Ascot. Estimate, who is owned by theQueen, failedhis test on 19 June 2014 after he came second in the Gold Cup at Ascot, winning £80,625.Russian Realmtested positive on 20 June 2014, when he came ninth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.
Ocean Legend, trained by Anthony Carroll, tested positive after winning the starspreads.com England World Cup Offers Handicap Stakes at Brighton on 24 June 2014.
Royal Alcor, trained by Gay Kelleway, produced a positive test after winning the Follow Us On Twitter Yarmouth Racecourse Handicap Stakes at Great Yarmouth on 26 June 2014
Barry Hill, who came out of retirement three years ago following the death of his son, also had two horses test positive.Soul Intentfailed a test after winning the Chalk Lane Handicap Stakesat Epsom Downs on 3 July 2014, whileJolly Red Jeanz’spositive result followed awin in the Raymond & Kathleen Corbett Memorial Handicap Stakes at Chester on 12 July 2014.
Strath Burn, trained by Charlie Hills, produced a positive test when he won the JLT Maiden Stakes at Newburyon 3 July 2014.
Disqualified
The disciplinary panel hearing for all these cases will take place on 25 September 2014. While the BHA will recommend no financial penalty is imposed on the trainers, it is likely the horses involved will be disqualified from the relevant races.
Separate hearing
An eighth case, involving Charlie Wells – who failed a drugs test after winning the 32Red Classified Stakes at Chepstow on June 23 -also relates to feed contamination.
However, astrainer Eve Johnson-Houghtonclaims she has never used Alfalfa Oil Plus, the case will be heard separately by the disciplinary panel on another date.
The BHA has worked with the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) and Dodson & Horrell during the investigation and statements provided by the organisations will be considered.