Mackay horse trainer Trinity Bannon caught with syringe after QRIC ban

A prominent horse trainer and racing identity was found with a syringe during a police patrol, after having earlier been banned from racing for having substances in her system at a Rockhampton tournament.

Trinity Mae Bannon was caught with a syringe in her backpack following a QRIC ban for racing with substances.

A prominent racing identity and disgraced former jockey has been caught with a syringe after a nine-month racing ban over illegal substances, a court has heard.

The earlier QRIC ban came after Trinity Mae Bannon admitted to having banned substances in her system at a Rockhampton race on April 29, 2021.

The 38-year-old did not show to her Mackay Magistrates Court hearing on Thursday, with magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan noting Bannon had earlier pleaded not guilty to the failing to properly dispose of a syringe charge.

Ms Hartigan decided to deal with the matter in Bannon’s absence, saying if “she hasn’t turned up, that’s her problem”.

Prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao told the court the syringe was discovered by police during a routine traffic patrol.

Mackay jockey Trinity Bannon

“They had taken up with the defendant in a vehicle (and) located a syringe in a backpack, which was in the footwell of the passenger seat”, Ms Taufa’ao said.

“(Bannon) failed to state a lawful emergent reason for failing to take care of that syringe.”

Bannon had returned to racing in 2019 after a horse kick shattered her collarbone in 2015, leaving her with “a lot of scar tissue and nerve damage” in her shoulder.

After Bannon was caught with substances in her system in 2021, QRIC changed its policy to conceal from the public what the substances were.

Queensland Jockeys Association president Glen Prentice said he was “definitely in favour of not publicising it.”

“I mean some people go through a lot of problems and if it’s just an innocent mistake too, like diet pills,” Mr Prentice said in

“You can test positive to taking Panadeine Forte.

Mackay-based trainer Trinity Bannon rides Grand Emporer on the beach.

“We had a jockey recently who … got hurt in the barrier and the doctor prescribed him (Panadeine Forte)

“(He) went to the trials and tested positive, so it can be an innocent mistake.”

Bannon said in 2020 that “personally I think it’s been blown way out of proportion”.

“It’s a very minor offence,” she said.

“I haven’t done anything illegal (and) I haven’t cheated.”

Ms Hartigan sentenced Bannon to a $200 fine referred to SPER with no conviction recorded.