Syringe with fluid
Advocate Brett Maselle is a knowledgeable casual horseracing observer and something of a ‘consumer watchdog’. He recently addressed an email to National Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Colin Hall following a perceived surge in rumours of horses having tested positive with prohibited substances.
We publish hereunder the full text of Maselle’s enquiry and the response thereto from the NHA.
The Advocate writes…
Dear Mr Hall
- I am addressing this email to you inasmuch as you appear to be the only person at the NHA who can assist me with my enquiry.
- Rumour is rife in the industry and horseracing websites that a sizeable amount of horses have been found to have prohibited substances in their systems. I know that rumour is not fact. I believe that the NHA needs to either put the rumours to bed or to provide the industry with full details of what has transpired and is occurring. If a horse has been found positive and a hearing has taken place the NHA should immediately make this fact known to the industry. If someone was found not guilty, then this should also be made known. Transparency is what horseracing requires. The problem with rumour is that it feeds and grows to unexpected proportions. The talk is a trainer has already been fined and a horse suspended as a result of a positive in a Group race and that a positive has been found in a horse relating to Durban’s biggest race. These rumours (whether fact or not) have an adverse effect on all aspects of horseracing.
- I will be grateful if you would furnish me with the following:-
- The number of trainers having been charged this year by the NHA with horses found to have prohibited substances;
- The dates of any inquiry this year held in connection with horses having been found positive;
- The findings and sentences imposed if guilty findings were made;
- The number of positive findings that are currently being investigated and the regions from which the horses emanate.
- Lastly, if findings have been made by an inquiry Board, I believe that the NHA has a duty to make this known immediately. It cannot wait. The industry needs to see that the NHA is doing its job. The rumours need to be ended.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
The Chief Executive responds…
Dear Adv Maselle
Thank you for your email.
I can confirm that there does appear to be a spike in the number of positive specimens reported by the laboratory over the past few months. I am however going to compare the current numbers with previous years as we do know that the number of positives does roughly, follow a seasonal pattern.
I will complete the exercise shortly and then return to you with any information that I am able to provide.
Kind regards
Colin Hall
Chief Executive – The National Horseracing Authority
