The Stewards today concluded their inquiry into the analyst’s test reports relative to the findings of phenylbutazone and its metabolites in the pre-race urine sample taken from SOUTHERN SPRINGS on the morning of 14 January 2015 and in subsequent urine and blood samples taken from SOUTHERN SPRINGS later that day under post-race conditions. SOUTHERN SPRINGS was withdrawn from the Edinburgh Handicap conducted at the Happy Valley racemeeting on 14 January 2015 by order of the Stewards after acceding to a request from Mr C S Shum, the trainer of SOUTHERN SPRINGS, to withdraw the horse from its intended race.
Evidence was taken today from Mr Shum, Mr K H Ting, assistant trainer allocated to Mr Shum’s stable, Mr K O Wong, head lad, Dr T S M Wan, Head of Racing Laboratory, and Dr S C Mechie, Veterinary Officer.
It was established that SOUTHERN SPRINGS had been inadvertently administered phenylbutazone on the afternoon of Monday, 12 January 2015 by Mr Wong rather than a horse in the box adjoining that occupied by SOUTHERN SPRINGS.
Mr Shum pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 140(1) in that as the trainer of SOUTHERN SPRINGS, he did fail to ensure that the horse was free of any prohibited substance on 14 January 2015, the day on which it was declared to run in the Edinburgh Handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse. Having considered the circumstances of this case including his prior good record and the forthrightness of his evidence during the hearing and throughout the investigative process, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for Mr Shum to be fined the sum of $20,000.
The Stewards advised Mr Wong that they will forward a report to the Club’s Stables Management regarding his role in this matter.
