TRAINER FINED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 5

TRAINER FINED

Positive Swab Inquiry

(N Z Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 9. The Kumeu trotting trainer, G Cole, was fined £3O today by a committee appointed by the New Zealand Trotting Conference to conduct a hearing into the positive swab returned by the trotter, Indian Smoke. The committee was Messrs A. W. Wallace (chairman), L. G. Reiger (New Zealand Trotting Conference), and A. E. Dodd. Announcing its decision, the committee said: “It is the unanimous decision of the committee appointed by the New Zealand Trotting Conference that the horse Indian Smoke did have administered to it a drug or stimulant capable of affecting its speed, stamina, courage or conduct. The objection therefore is sustained, and the horse Indian Smoke is disqualified for the race, namely, the Anniversary Trot, run at the Bay of Plenty Trotting Club's meeting on Monday, January 30, 1961. “The placings will now’ be: Mineto 1, Rossalona 2, Laurel Grattan 3, Revisal 4. Drug or Stimulant “The committee further finds under Rule 70 (3) that the horse Indian Smoke had been taken to the course for the purpose of engaging in a race and that it had had a drug or stimulant administered to if capable of affecting its speed, stamina, courage or conduct; that the horse was in the charge of I tlie trainer-driver, George : Cole; and that he failed to satisfy the committee that he had taken all reasonable precautions to prevent the administration of such drug or stimulant.” The committee fined Cole £3O. In imposing this penalty it took into consideration the fact that in its opinion Cole did not wilfully administer the drug, in that it was proved to the committee’s satisfaction that the drug was contained as an ingredient of a well-known proprietary food used by him. Cole and the owner of Indian Smoke. Mr A. S. Byers, were advised that they had {the right of appeal.