The Harness Racing Victoria Integrity/Stewards Department has today conducted a number of horse and float inspections at the Tabcorp Park Melton trials.
Officials also obtained a number of swab samples from competing horses for analysis by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) for prohibited substances.
Participants are reminded that the rules with respect to prohibited substances apply equally to trial meetings as they do to official race meetings.
Recent additions to resources within the HRV Integrity Unit will enable continued focus to be placed on areas such as stable/float inspections, the testing of trainers/drivers and out-of-competition testing.
The 2014/15 season (financial year) saw HRV increase its analytical testing spend by 15.7% which included significant retrospective testing as RASL and its Biological Research Unit (BRU) continue to develop analytical methods enabling such testing.
The season also saw the first prosecution in Victorian racing of a person for the administration of the prohibited substance cobalt, which was achieved through retrospective testing. A further increase of 6.7% is budgeted by HRV for the analytical spend in the 2015/16 financial year.
With the assistance of the additional resources, the HRV Integrity/Stewards Department are conducting a number of proactive investigations to further ensure and enhance stakeholder, community and wagering confidence in harness racing in Victoria.
In doing so, the HRV Integrity/Stewards Department proudly represent the significant majority of people involved in the sport who promote a level playing field by their outstanding service to the industry.
END
Media enquiries to:
CODY WINNELL
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGER
HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0288 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
