Two more NQ horses test ‘positive’

Another two north Queensland trainers have been stung by stewards after their horses tested positive to a prohibited substance.

A recent race at Townsville’s Cluden Park. Picture: Alix Sweeney.

Another two north Queensland trainers have been stung by stewards after their horses tested positive to a prohibited substance.

The two new positive tests, revealed by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner to the Cairns Post this week, follows on from the recent handful of NQ trainers who have been fined and had winning horses disqualified for the use of dexamethasone.

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The two most recent positive tests, both being to horse trainers based in Townsville, are not for dexamethasone.

A race at Cluden Park.

QRIC could not confirm what substance the duo have tested positive for, but declared it was not dexamethasone and the pair’s horses tested positive for different substances.

“Two Townsville trainers have been advised that horses they train have tested positive to a prohibited substance,” Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said.

“One trainer was notified after his horse competed at Mackay on 18 October 2018 and the other when a horse he trains competed at Townsville on 14 December 2019.

A race at Cluden Park.

“Both trainers will be subject to steward’s inquiries on a date to be fixed.”

The two inquiries have been delayed through coronavirus and a backlog of cases over the last year or so.

As many as six north Queensland horse trainers have been fined for the use of dexamethasone in recent months.

It is an anti-inflammatory that is allowed to be administered to horses, however, it cannot be in a horse’s system on race day.

A massive 10-event program will be run at Townsville’s Cluden Park on Saturday afternoon before non-TAB racing in the north heads to Innisfail on Sunday.

Originally published as Two more NQ horses test ‘positive’