Latest News

Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analyst's finding of trendione and epitrenbolone being detected in a urine sample taken from American Starlet after the F&M Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1600m at the Warwick Farm race meeting on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.

Evidence today was taken from Mr John Thompson, the trainer of American Starlet, Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Carly Garling and ARFL General Manager Mr John Keledjian.

Background

The evidence established the following.

1. In June 2018, Racing NSW provided notification to the racing industry in respect of the detection of trace levels of the anabolic steroid trendione and/or trenbolone in certain batches of veterinary prescription animal remedies containing the progestogen altrenogest, used to control the cyclical activity of fillies and mares. Racing NSW advised that, until further notice, trainers in NSW should not administer injectable products containing altrenogest at any time. Further, trainers were advised they should not use oral altrenogest containing products within one clear day of racing and that these registered products must be used in accordance with the relevant manufacturer’s guidelines.

2. During an unannounced stable inspection conducted by Racing NSW Stewards/Investigators on 27 August 2025, it was found that American Starlet was being administered 10ml of ovu-mate (containing altrenogest) orally on a daily basis. Ovu-mate is a registered product specifically manufactured for use in horses.

3. Stewards were unable to conclusively determine the reasons for the prohibited substances being detected in the sample, however, having regard to the evidence provided, they were satisfied that such finding was not due to the administration of an anabolic steroid but was most likely due to the ingestion of an altrenogest containing substance.

Charge

Stewards gave careful consideration as to which of the prohibited substance Rules of Racing should be applied and considered that, given the circumstances of the matter and having regard to the veterinary and scientific evidence, AR240(2) was the Rule of Racing that most appropriately reflected the relevant conduct.

AR240(2) – Presenting a horse to race with a prohibited substance detected

The details of the charge being that Mr Thompson did present American Starlet to race in the F&M Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1600m at Warwick Farm on 30 July 2025 and a post-race urine sample taken from the mare was found to contain the prohibited substances trendione and epitrenbolone.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty

Stewards considered the following matters in respect to penalty:

1. Notifications issued by Racing NSW in respect of the use of altrenogest products.
2. The nature and levels of the substances detected.
3. Guilty plea
4. Precedent penalties.
5. Personal and professional circumstances.
6. Principles of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct.
7. Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry.

Stewards determined the starting point for the offence under AR240(2) was a fine of $10,000. Having regard to the circumstances of this case as well as the mitigating factors detailed above, including a guilty plea, Stewards determined the appropriate penalty was a $7,500 fine.

American Starlet

Stewards, acting under the powers of AR240(1), disqualified American Starlet from second placing in Race 3 at Warwick Farm on 30 July 2025 and amended the placings as follows:

1st – Fairway Star
2nd – Heaven Bound
3rd – Autumn Dream
4th – Audrey’s Lane
5th – King Gesture

Relevant Rules

AR 240 Prohibited substance in sample taken from horse at race meeting

(1) Subject to subrule (3), if a horse is brought to a racecourse 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 horse must be disqualified from any race in which it started on that day.

(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.

- Tom Moxon (Chairman of Stewards-Racing NSW)