Special Agent

New Zealand offers a semi-comfortable stay in an establishment that may be in a country setting courtesy of the King of up to seven years for bribery, whether the crime happened on our shores or overseas.

I was checking today's scratchings and thought of the Sam Lennox Bananarahma disqualification. That was another where a trusted vet was at fault. The horse was given an injection by the vet for a skin complaint 24 DAYS before racing, returned a positive and disqualified. Sam and his owners lost the race and stake money and, as far as I know the vet was unpunished.

There are so many good ideas coming out but, unfortunately the three codes will never work together. The problems are over complicated and not that hard to fix with some common sense and a bit of Kiwi ingenuity. Less talk and more action required. What has happened to Lisa is disgusting when galloping trainers have had little or no disruption to their training regime or income.

Better just clarify, the treatment was INSIDE the withholding period thus the positive swab. BUT under a veterinarian's care.

As this inquiry was dealing only with the race disqualification and the trainer penalty will be dealt with at a further date I thought of further situations others may find interesting. Shadows Cast was disqualified from a win because he returned a positive swab whilst being treated by a vet for a minor ailment using a product outside the withholding period. Trainer Mark Oulaghan was fined $4,000. Consequences for the vet ... nothing I believe. Green Aeon was disqualified from 1st and 2nd in two races. Trainer Todd Mitchell was not charged because the horse was treated by a vet using acceptable products within withholding guidelines, citing the horse had abnormal excretion rates. I think the "acceptable products within withholding guidelines" opens a can of worms looking at historical cobalt cases. In particular the Graham Richardson case with the mare that was placed in the Auckland Cup (name just escapes me, maybe Windflower). Authorities knew the mare had unusually high levels from previous swabs yet Richardson was not informed. The product used had "nil withholding" on the packaging. In other cases the same (or similar) product with "nil withholding" was used, off the top of my head included but not limited to Donald Caskey, Peter McKenzie and Tony Bambry. There are quite a few cases, all available online, with holes in the written evidence from galloping and harness that involve a lot of reading. I have to confess I haven't read up much on the greyhounds but judging by comments on here there must be discrepancies there too. The underlying problem to me, and many others obviously, is the inconsistency which when there is an overriding governing body ruling the three codes should not exist. As I've mentioned on the Greyhound Section here, a Royal Commission into how the RIB operates would be the best and fairest inquiry of all.

If Allan Sharrock can be exonerated for environmental contamination, why can't Lisa Waretini be treated in the same manner?

Too right re the INCA investigation. Inconsistent rulings are only as complex as the codes wish to make it. When RIU is governing all three codes it should be an even playing field.

So, and excuse me if this has been suggested on here before, as the investigations and rulings are inconsistent across the three codes, is the answer then a Royal Commission Inquiry into the RIB/RIU performance and handling of misdemeanours, swabbing procedures, thresholds and general rules/policies? Going by comments on here if a clean out is sought it may not just be licence holders who should be looked at.

Unless a bar leaner drives the dogs to the races, what is your point?

Yes it is strange to me also. As for being a victim because of colour or race, she needs a good old fashioned kick up the backside and told to grow up. As a licence holder she has signed up annually to abide by the rules, which includes some form of respectful behaviour. If you can't do that, get out.

When it's suggested to take meth users or affiliates out of the game that strikes me as being a form of deterrent. Is that totally a bad idea? As it appears meth positives are not from administering but, contamination why is evidence of such not treated in the same manner as Allan Sharrock's two cases at Awapuni? The horses were disqualified but the trainer was exonerated. How widely is pre-race testing with on the day results used? This would definitely eliminate the chance of any dog running with a prohibited substance on board, deliberate or accidental. Cost is always an excuse for not doing something but, the fall out from these positives is more than a tarnish and I think consistent pre-race testing could be well worth the outlay in the long run.

This doesn't matter to the RIB. There is no scientific evidence that cobalt is performance enhancing but, licence holders are still charged if detected. I would have thought meth would have a negative effect on performance.

I want to know what the consequences are for anyone in a leading position not following the conditions set out in the Racing Act, as the industry is legally bound? It seems racing administrators just do whatever they want with little or no consequences.

One would hope consultation with interested parties happened before making that decision. Woo hoo synthetic racing!!

The phase out continues. You'd have to wonder how many jumpers will venture down to the Grand National carnival, and how long before the reference to jumping goes completely with a change to the Winter Carnival, or something.

That "B sample" not being tested is interesting and shows an RIB cross code inconsistency. Surely testing of this sample would have left no doubt. I stand to be corrected but, I think if you put your hand up to have the B sample tested you can choose which laboratory it can be tested at e.g. Hong Kong may be your choice.

It seems to me if you were going to give your dog (or horse) a performance enhancing drug, meth would not be your "go to". It doesn't appear to be something that would improve your greyhound and make it kick over the final stages of a race. Most positives to meth in galloping and greyhounds have been through contamination from the people employed to look after these athletes on race day. When you look at the consequences of their actions why do we need them in the industry? With greyhound racing "on notice" to clean up their act maybe a more permanent ban is required to show greyhound racing is serious about keeping the industry alive for those who wish to continue in it.

Certainly a young team of workers.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/131979402/concerns-raised-over-tabs-proposed-outsourcing-deal

Let's face it, 10 wins anywhere is still a thrill for any owner. That's what we are all in it for, wins. If they were only in the Manawatu you would have to think the horse has been nicely handled and well placed. On the other matter of Australian authorities (both codes too I would suggest) insisting change of tactics declared and form reversals explained it shows to me exactly what it is. Professionals across the ditch, amateurs here.

A hang over from 2020's Year of the Metal Rat .... an extremely bad omen and bad year as history will show. 2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit. That figures .... look at all the Bunnies in charge!!

I don't think there will be a choice moving forward, they might all be mRNA. I bet you never gave getting a tetanus shot a second thought in the past. As time goes on few will even question other vaccine make ups.

I'm not sure if people are ignorant or dumb. There are plenty I would not want to go to war with. It is amazing how some are still scared of catching Covid and worried about the vaccination status of those around them. There was a lady customer at the Post Office yesterday wearing a mask. When will having your face free to be seen become a prerequisite to enter banks and shops again as displayed at their doors?

Since everyone became soft. Maybe NZTR are trying to dispel the wet track breeds by cancelling all heavy tracks they would excel on, and using synthetic tracks their bodies are not designed for. Wanganui abandonment excuse was a good one too. The ambulance and vet vehicles could not follow the field. Has this ever happened at Wanganui (or anywhere) in the many years of winter racing there? Heard of ambulance tracks? Heard of four wheel drive vehicles? Heard of tractors?

I don't have a comment on last night's blood testing but, have observed the galloping Stipes' Reports where pre race blood testing pops up seemingly randomly and not always on big races at big race meetings. There was also hair follicle testing on one horse only at a meeting with no explanation. The Stipes/RIB are in charge and can pretty much do what they like apparently. I don't understand why there isn't blanket testing rules so everything appears above board. Well yes I do actually because I know that, as an example, cobalt testing is cost prohibitive to test every winner.