Tasmanian horse Eastender has been scratched from Monday's Adelaide Cup at Morphettville under a rule that prohibits injections at certain times.
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Thoroughbred Racing South Australia issued a statement on Monday, confirming that an inquiry had been opened.
"During a routine stable inspection this morning as part of their role in protecting the integrity of racing in South Australia, Thoroughbred Racing SA stewards became concerned with regard to race day treatment practices involving the Tasmanian horse Eastender ahead of today’s [Monday's] Adelaide Cup," the statement said.
"Following an interview with the trainer of the horse, Mr Barry Campbell, Stewards declared the horse a late scratching at 1055 under the provisions of Australian Rule of Racing 254.
"Stewards will conduct an inquiry into this incident at a time to be fixed.
"No further comment will be made at this time."
Rule 254 in the Australian Rules of Racing, March 2019, states the following:
A person must not, without the permission of the stewards:
- (a) inject;
- (b) cause to be injected;
- (c) attempt to inject; or
- (d) be a party to the injection or attempted injection of, a horse engaged to run in any race:
- - (i) at any time on the day of the scheduled race and prior to the start of that race; and/or
- - (ii) at any time during the 1 clear day prior to 12.00am on the day of the scheduled race.
- (2) If a person breaches subrule (1), or the Stewards reasonably suspect that such a breach has been committed, they may order the scratching of the horse from the relevant race.
- (3) If a person breaches subrule (1), but the horse competes in the race, the horse may be disqualified from the race.
- (4) For the purposes of this rule:
- (a) “inject” includes, but is not limited to, the insertion of a hypodermic needle into a horse;
- (b) it is not necessary to establish whether any substance was injected, or the nature of any substance injected.
Eastender was third favourite for the $400,000 Adelaide Cup.
The Spreyton-based stayer was the winner of last month's Launceston Cup, becoming the first horse in 42 years to complete the Devonport, Launceston and Hobart cups treble.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
