GREYHOUND RACING INTEGRITY UNIT REPORT SWABBING NUMBERS
with 6 months suspended for 24 months. “Brace and Bits” was disqualified from Race 7 at Sale on 10 May 2020.
Swabs taken 2019 - 2020 financial year (01/07/2019 – 30/06/2020) = 9767
Barbara Cheney – VRT Hearing 14 May 2021 – GAR106(1)(a), GAR106(1)(c), GAR106(1)(d), GAR106(2), GAR127(1), GAR127(6), GAR86(e), GAR86(f)(i), GAR86(p), LRR42.1 & LRR42.9(a), Between December 2019 and August 2020, Ms Cheney failed to prevent the unnecessary pain and suffering of greyhounds, kept greyhounds in dangerous and detrimental conditions, failed to comply with the lawful order of a Steward and failed to give evidence in an inquiry. Ms Cheney pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to all charges. Charges 4 and 5 were withdrawn by GRV. The VRT dismissed charges 14, 15 and 16. The VRT imposed a total period of 9 years disqualification on the remaining charges, which was reduced to a 7-year disqualification to be served.
Swabs taken 2020 - 2021 financial year = 9555
MONTHLY SWABS TAKEN 1200 1000 800
600
2020
2021
STEWARDS ACTIVITY OFFENCES AND ACTIVITY
MAY 2021
Marring
14
Fail to Chase
42
Satisfactory Trials Cleared
41
Satisfactory Trials Not Cleared
12
Samples (Swabs) Taken
942
Positive Swabs from RASL
6
VRT Positive Swab Cases Heard
2
VRT Appeals Heard
2
VRT Stay Applications
1
VRT Animal Welfare Cases Heard
2
VRT Misconduct Cases Heard
0
VCAT Misconduct Cases Heard
1
POCTA/DAA Prosecutions
0
PROSECUTIONS OVERVIEW Victorian Racing Tribunal Ronald Winter – VRT Hearing 13 May 2021 – (GAR) 83(2), failed to present the greyhounds “Destini Trucker” free of any prohibited substance ‘Piroxicam’ for event at Cranbourne on 6 September 2020. Mr Winter pleaded ‘Guilty’, The VRT imposed a 1,500 fine, with $500 suspended pending no further breach of GAR 83 in the next 24 mths. “Destini Trucker” was disqualified from the event. Sharon Chignell – VRT Appeal 2021 – GAR 69B(1), the greyhound “William Rose” was charged with Fail To Chase at Sale on 30 April 2021. Ms Chignell pleaded ‘Not Guilty’. The VRT upheld the appeal.
12
Braden Finn – VRT Hearing 3 and 5 May 2021 – GAR83(2) (a), GAR79A(4), GAR83(2)(a) & GAR86(o), an Out of Competition Test taken from Mr Finn’s greyhound “More Deductions” on 15 April 2020 contained the Permanently Banned Prohibited Substances “Cocaine, Benzoylecgonine and Ecgonine methyl ester”. Mr Finn failed to present the greyhound “Brace and Bits” free of the permanently banned prohibited substance “Benzoylecgonine” for an event at Sale on 10 May 2020. Mr Finn pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to charge 1 and ‘Guilty’ to charges 2 and 3. Charge 4 was withdrawn by GRV. The VRT dismissed charge 1 and imposed a 6-month suspension on charge 2, wholly suspended for 12 months. The VRT imposed an 18-month disqualification on charge 3,
Simon Humphries – VRT Appeal, Stay Application 18 May 2021 – GAR86(q), On 2 March 2021, Mr Humphries engaged in conduct which was detrimental and prejudicial to the interest, welfare, image, and control of greyhound racing. Investigative Stewards imposed a 6-month suspension with 2 months suspended for 24 months and a $500 fine and re-imposed a suspended 1-month suspension and $250 fine. Mr Humphries advised the Tribunal that he did not want to proceed with the application. The VRT dismissed the stay application. Jess Grima – VRT Hearing 18 May 2021 – GAR86(p) & GAR106(1)(d), Mr Grima failed to provide veterinary treatment to the greyhound ‘Max the Maniac’ within three days as ordered by Stewards at the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club on 14 February 2020. Mr Grima pleaded ‘Guilty’. The VRT imposed a $500 fine on charge 1 and a $2000 fine on charge 2. Simon Humphries – VRT Appeal Hearing 26 May 2021 – GAR86(q), On 2 March 2021, Mr Humphries engaged in conduct which was detrimental and prejudicial to the interest, welfare, image, and control of greyhound racing. Investigative Stewards imposed a 6-month suspension with 2 months suspended for 24 months and a $500 fine and re-imposed a suspended 1-month suspension and $250 fine. The VRT upheld the appeal, imposing a 6-month suspension with 4 months suspended for 24 months and a $500 fine. A suspended 1-month suspension and $250 fine were also reactivated. Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Alan Tharle – VCAT Hearing 14 May 2021 – GAR86(ah) & GAR86(d), GRV appealed the VRT’s decision to impose a 12-month suspension and a 6-month suspension served concurrently. VCAT varied the VRT’s decision, imposing a 12-month disqualification on charge 1 and a 6-month disqualification on charge 2, to be served concurrently.