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Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the analysts’ finding of altrenogest in a pre-race blood sample taken from the gelding Khumbu at the Walcha race meeting on Friday, 3 February 2023.

Evidence was taken from Mr Ross Stitt, trainer of Khumbu, Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Peter Curl and Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory General Manager, Mr John Keledjian.

Charge – AR240(2)

The details of the charge being that licensed trainer Ross Stitt did commit a breach of AR240(2) due to the following matters:

1. He is a licensed trainer with Racing NSW and was the trainer of Khumbu when the gelding was brought to Walcha Racecourse on 3 February 2023 for the purpose of participating in Race 2 (Country Boosted Maiden Plate) on that day.
2. Prior to running in Race 2, a pre-race blood sample was taken from Khumbu.
3. Altrenogest was detected in such sample when analysed by two Official Racing Laboratories, namely, the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory and Racing Analytical Services Ltd.
4. Altrenogest is a prohibited substance on Prohibited List B when detected in a gelding.

Penalty

The following matters were considered in respect to penalty:

• Guilty plea.
• Mr Stitt's full co-operation with Racing NSW Stewards during the investigation.
• His personal and professional circumstances.
• Principles of specific and general deterrence and what message is sent to the industry in respect to such conduct.
• Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the Thoroughbred racing industry.
• Mr Stitt’s good record with this being his first breach of a prohibited substance rule in 58 years as a trainer.
• Although the Stewards were not able to establish the exact cause of the exposure of Khumbu to altrenogest, it was more likely the result of an inadvertent administration or contamination.

Mr Stitt was fined $3,500, reduced from $6000 for his guilty plea and other considerations referred to above.

Khumbu

In accordance with the provisions of AR240(1) Khumbu was disqualified from its sixth placing in Race 2 (Country Boosted Maiden Plate, 1440m) at the Walcha race meeting on Friday, 3 February 2023.

Relevant Rules:

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

• 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.
• 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.