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On the morning of 18 November 2025, Racing NSW Stewards attended Dubbo Racecourse for the purpose of conducting random breath testing of licensed persons in accordance with their powers under the Rules of Racing.

Mr Corey Mills was randomly tested in accordance with Racing NSW’s drug and alcohol policy. The initial sample returned a positive indication for alcohol.

Subsequent confirmatory tests returned a blood alcohol concentration above the relevant threshold level. Mr Mills was stood down from the remainder of his duties on 18 November 2025.

Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the breath sample provided by Mr Mills. A brief of evidence was tendered, and oral evidence was taken from Mr Mills.

Stewards considered the evidence and issued a charge under AR139(1)(a) against Mr Mills as detailed below;

Charges issued against Mr Corey Mills

Charge: AR 139 Offences where riders use banned substances

The details of the charge being that licensed stablehand/track rider Mr Corey Mills on the morning of Tuesday, 18 November 2025 after having ridden trackwork at Dubbo Racecourse did provide a sample of his breath in which alcohol, which is a banned substance under AR136(1)(f), was detected at a concentration above the relevant threshold level.

Plea : Guilty

Penalty

The Stewards considered the following matters when determining penalty:

1. Guilty plea.
2. Mr Mills personal and professional circumstances.
3. Industry participant for over 6 years with a clean record.
4. Contrition shown by Mr Mills and his willingness to accept responsibility for the breach.
5. Principle of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect of such conduct.
6. Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry.

Charge 1: AR139(1)(a) – 8 weeks suspension of licence

Having regard to his guilty plea and other relevant considerations, Stewards determined that Mr Mills riding component of his stablehand licence be suspended for a period of 8 weeks reduced to 6 weeks, to commence immediately and to expire on 1 January 2026.

Mr Mills was advised of his rights of appeal.

Relevant Rules

Division 5 – Substances banned for use by riders and horse handlers

AR 136 Banned substances in relation to riders

(1) Unless otherwise stated in these Australian Rules, the following substances and/or their metabolites, artefacts and isomers are specified as banned substances in riders when detected in a urine sample at a concentration above the respective threshold level:

 (f) alcohol (at a blood alcohol concentration in excess of 0.02% that is, 20 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood) on a breath analysing instrument

Division 6 – Banned substance offences for riders and horse handlers

AR 139 Offences where riders use banned substances

(1) A rider breaches these Australian Rules if:

 (a) a banned substance under AR 136(1) is detected in a sample taken from the rider

- S.D. Parkinson (Chief Stipendiary Steward, Western Racing Association - Racing NSW)