Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, subsequent to their investigation, have issued the following charge against Clinton McDonald, as the trainer of Flying On A Limb (the Horse), under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2).
Charge One: AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting
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(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 25 April 2024, the Horse was brought to the Flemington Racecourse and was engaged to race in Race 8, the Auckland Thoroughbred Racing Inc. Trophy over 1100 metres (the Race), finishing sixth.
- On 25 April 2024, a pre-race blood sample was taken from the Horse (the Sample).
- An analysis of the Sample detected the presence of Triamcinolone Acetonide.
- Triamcinolone Acetonide 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 Triamcinolone Acetonide was detected in the Sample by Racing Analytical Services Limited and by Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory.
Triamcinolone is a long-acting synthetic corticosteroid used in horses as an anti-inflammatory. It is available in a variety of formulations and in horses, is often injected intra-articularly (into a joint).
Triamcinolone is a prescription medication and can only be dispensed by a veterinarian. Triamcinolone 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).
The charge issued against Mr McDonald will be heard before the Victorian Racing Tribunal on a date to be fixed.