TROTTING Rule On Drugs Now Widely Discussed

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 6

TROTTING Rule On Drugs Now Widely Discussed

The inquiry into the positive swab from the pacer, Faro, at the Cambridge Trotting Club’s meeting on March 30 cannot be reopened, but the finding is likely to cause wide discussions on the rule against drugs and its administration. The finding differs from decisions in other cases heard by trotting authorities.

According to a Press Association message (printed yesterday), the official statement released by the stipendiary steward (Mr A. W. Wallace) said: “The trainer, L. V. Poynter, administered to the horse about nine hours and a half before the race a patent proprietary animal preparation, commonly known as Bells.”

courage or conduct in the race.” The committee disqualified the horse for the race at Cambridge, but took no action against the connexions of the horse, “commending them for the frank and truthful manner in which they gave their evidence.” As it was established by the official report that the mixture was administered to the horse only to prevent his scouring while travelling to the races at Cambridge, it seems strange that it was necessary to disqualify him for the race, though no action was taken against the connexions.

The preparation known as Bells has been widely used by horse trainers and farmers throughout New Zealand for many years. However, in recent years its importation has been prohibited, according to Health Department officials. It has not been impossible to obtain Bells, which may arrive illegally in New Zealand from Canada. Bells usually contains considerably more strychnine than morphine, although the latter drug only was found by the analyst when dealing with the swab from Faro. A sealed bottle, tested at the same time, was found to contain morphine. The normal dosage of Bells is a few drops. Often it has been given to horses which are poor feeders to increase their appetites. It has also been found beneficial when horses have had colic or have been suffering from kidney complaints. Morphine is not shown on the bottle as one of the ingredients of Bells. Committee’s Rider

Poynter, who openly admitted giving the mixture, apparently denied any knowledge of the drugs it contained. Earlier Decisions

Rule 345 (s) says: “Every person commits a corrupt practice within the meaning of these rules, who, in New Zealand or in any other country: Administers, causes or permits to be administered or who attempts to administer or cause to be administered or who permits any person to administer or cause to be administered to any horse which has been taken to a racecourse for the purpose of engaging in a race any drug, stimulant or depressant capable of affecting its speed, stamina, courage or conduct in such race.”

In a rider to its finding, the committee of inquiry recommended that the New Zealand Trotting Conference give widespread publicity to the fact that the administration of Bells could, in certain circumstances, constitute a serious breach of the Rules of Trotting.

Anyone found guilty of a breach of tips rule may be fined or disqualified. Ju*t more than 12 months ago R. W. Townley, a trainer, was foq®d at Addington administering a liquid to the horse, Super Brigade. On analysis some of the liquid showed the presence of a derivative of morphine.

The use of Bells before a horse race is prohibited in Australia and also by the New Zealand Racing Conference. It could be used only some days before a meeting under Australian rules and New Zealand galloping rules.

The committee found that Faro did “have administered to him a drug, stimulant or depressant capable of affecting its speed,

Townley was charged under Rule 345 (s) (1), which was similar to the rule passed last July, quoted above. Townley claimed that he had had the mixture for some years and he was giving it to Super Brigade to prevent his scouring. His plea was not accepted and he was found guilty of a corrupt practice. He was disqualified for life. This sentence was confirmed by the appeal judges. Aldora Case Last October a swab taken from the pacer, Aldora, after he had won at Forbury Park, proved positive. The owner of Aldora, W. Thomson, and the trainer, M. C. Flaws, were disqualified for five years for failing to take proper precaution to prevent the administration of a drug to the horse. In this case the committee of inquiry was unable to find who had administered the drug. Thomson and Flaws appealed against the decision, Flaws having his appeal allowed and Thomson having his disqualification reduced to three years. As is the case with all trotting inquiries in New Zealand, the Faro case was not open to the press. It was opened on Wednesday but, when the hearing was adjourned about 5.30 p.m., Mr Wallace declined to say whether charges had been laid or not. However, it is known that charges were laid that day and that the committee had finished taking evidence by about 5.30 p.m. The committee, it is understood, met again later that evening to consider its verdict, but it was not until Saturday that this was announced. Committee The committee of inquiry in the Faro case was: Mr A. W. Wallace, of Auckland, a stipendiary steward; Mr A. E. Dodd, of Te Awamutu, a deputy-stipendiary steward; and Mr D. H. Blackie, of Cambridge, judicial steward of the Cambridge Trotting Club.

Tour of Police Stations.—The president of the New Zealand Police Association (DetectiveSergeant C. W. Naylor, of Lower Hutt) will begin a six-week national tour tomorrow. He will visit South Island stations first, returning to Wellington on May 30. On June 3 he will begin a tour of the North Island, which will end on June 27. Mr Naylor said that his tour was in the nature of a ‘‘good-will mission.” —(P.A.)