Mr Peter Hanson - Inquiry Conducted

On Tuesday 9 September 2025, Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an Inquiry into reports received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that Xylometazoline was detected in the following samples taken from the horse MACH DA VINCI NZ:

• Post-race urine sample taken following its win in Race 10, the ACCESS GROUP SOLUTIONS PROPERTY & ASSET MANAGEMENT PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Tuesday 22 April 2025;

• Pre-race blood sample taken prior to it running in Race 3, the ABLE DOORS PACE (1609 metres) conducted at Menangle on Saturday 17 May 2025.

The reserve portion and control solution for the urine sample and the ‘B’ portion for the blood sample were confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.

Licensed Trainer Mr Peter Hanson appeared at the Inquiry and presented evidence in relation to the horse MACH DA VINCI NZ and his registered training establishment.

Mr Scott McDonald, the owner of the horse MACH DA VINCI NZ, was also in attendance at the Inquiry.

A number of documents were entered into evidence at the Inquiry including the Certificates of Analysis in relation to the urine and blood samples, together with analytical reports in relation to the samples obtained from Mr Hanson’s registered training establishment.

HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr Martin Wainscott, was also present and provided evidence to the Inquiry that a possible source for the xylometazoline detected in the urine and blood samples was contamination from within the stable environment.

Mr Hanson pleaded guilty to two (2) charges issued against him pursuant to the Australian Harness Racing Rules as follows:

AHRR 190.  (1)  A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

(2)  If a horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1) the trainer of the horse is guilty of an offence.

(3)  If a person is left in charge of a horse and the horse is presented for a race otherwise than in accordance with sub rule (1), the trainer of the horse and the person left in charge is each guilty of an offence.

(4)  An offence under sub rule (2) or sub rule (3) is committed regardless of the circumstances in which the prohibited substance came to be present in or on the horse.

In relation to each of the charges, HRNSW Stewards imposed a 6 month disqualification period, to be served concurrently and to commence from 27 June 2025, the date upon which Mr Hanson was stood down pursuant to AHRR 183.

In consideration of an appropriate penalty, HRNSW Stewards were mindful of the following:

• The circumstances of this matter including evidence of Dr Wainscott;
• Mr Hanson’s licence history, offence record, training records during a 25 year involvement in the harness racing industry;
• Mr Hanson’s personal and financial subjective facts;
• Mr Hanson’s second prohibited substance matter;
• Class 2 Prohibited Substance;
• Mr Hanson’s guilty pleas.

Mr Hanson was informed of his right to appeal these decisions of the HRNSW Stewards.

Mr McDonald was provided with an opportunity to make submissions in relation to the provisions of AHRR 195. Following consideration of the submission and the evidence presented at the Inquiry, MACH DA VINCI NZ was disqualified from the abovementioned races.

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