Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued the following charges against Robert Hickmott, as the trainer of Haaland (the Horse), under Australian Rules of Racing 240(2) and 104(1).
Charge One: AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting
(2) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse for the purpose of participating in a race and a prohibited substance on Prohibited List A and/or Prohibited List B is detected in a sample taken from the horse prior to or following its running in any race, the trainer and any other person who was in charge of the horse at any relevant time breaches these Australian Rules.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
- On 11 February 2024, the Horse was brought to the Bendigo Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 5, the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Handicap over 2200 metres (the Race), finishing first.
- On 11 February 2024, a post-race urine sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
- An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Procaine.
- Procaine is considered prohibited substances pursuant to Division 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 (Prohibited list B) of the Australian Rules of Racing.
- The presence of Procaine was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by the Racing Science Centre.
Procaine is a local anaesthetic agent and central nervous system (CNS) stimulant. In horses, procaine is not commonly used alone but is a constituent of multiple commercially available penicillin-containing products. Procaine penicillin is a commonly used antibiotic in horses. Procaine is a prescription medication and can only be dispensed by a veterinarian. Procaine is a prohibited substance under the Australian Rules of Racing when detected in a sample taken from a horse at a race meeting or trial (including an official trial or a jump-out for the purpose of obtaining a permit to start in a race).
Charge Two: AR 104(1) Trainers must keep treatment records
(1) A trainer must record any medication or treatment administered to any horse in the trainer’s care by midnight on the day on which the administration was given.
(2) For the purpose of subrule (1), each record of administration must include the following information:
- (a) the name of the horse;
- (b) the date and time of administration of the treatment or medication;
- (c) the name of the treatment or medication administered (brand name or active constituent);
- (d) the route of administration including by injection, stomach tube, orally, topical application or inhalation;
- (e) the amount of medication given (if applicable);
- (f) the duration of treatment (if applicable);
- (g) the name and signature of the person/s administering and/or authorising the administration of the treatment or medication.
- (h) the reason for administering the treatment or medication.
The particulars of the charge are summarised as follows:
- On 28 March 2024, Mr Hickmott was requested by Stewards to produce treatment records for the Horse.
- Mr Hickmott’s treatment records did not, at this time, contain all medications or treatments administered to a horse under his care as required by AR 104(1).
The charges issued against Mr Hickmott will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.