Mr David Druitt - Inquiry Conducted

Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an Inquiry today into a report received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that halostachine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from the horse BURTON following its win in Race 1, the TAB VENUE MODE PACE (2270 metres) conducted at Wagga on Friday 28 February 2025.

The reserve portion and control solution was confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.

Licensed Trainer Mr David Druitt appeared at the Inquiry via Zoom and presented evidence in relation to the horse BURTON and his registered training establishment.

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

HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian, Dr Martin Wainscott, was also present and provided evidence to the Inquiry that the detection of halostachine was most likely as a result of contamination from within or around the stable environment.

Mr Druitt pleaded guilty to two charges issued against him pursuant to the Australian Harness Racing Rules as follows:

Charge 1-                  Issued pursuant to AHRR 190(1)(2) & (4)

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.

Charge 2-                  Issued pursuant to AHRR 190B(5) & (6)

AHRR 190B.  (1)  A trainer shall at all times keep and maintain a log book:-

(a)  listing all therapeutic substances in his or her possession;

(b)  recording all details of treatment administered to any horse in his or her care and including as a minimum requirement:

(i)         the name of the horse

(ii)        the date and time of administration of the treatment

(iii)       the name of the treatment (brand name of active constituent)

(iv)       the route of administration

(v)        the amount given

(vi)       the name and signature of the person or persons administering and/or authorising treatment.

(2)   For the purposes of this rule treatment includes:

(i)         all Controlled Drugs (Schedule 8) administered by a veterinarian

(ii)        all Prescription Animal Remedies (Schedule 4)

(iii)       all Prescription Only Medicines (Schedule 4) prescribed and/or dispensed by a veterinarian for off label use

(iv)       all injectable veterinary medicines (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intra-articular) not already included above

(v)        all Pharmacist only (Schedule 3) and Pharmacy Only (Schedule 2) medicines

(vi)       all veterinary and other medicines containing other scheduled and unscheduled prohibited substances

(vii)      all alkalinising agents

(viii)      all herbal preparations.

(ix)       shockwave therapy

                        (x)        acupuncture (including laser treatment)

(xi)       chiropractic treatment

(xii)      the use of any electrical stimulation device (including  transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS))

(xiii)     magnetic field therapy

                        (xiv)    ultrasound

(xv)     any form of oxygen therapy including hyperbaric oxygen therapy

(xvi)    the taking of a blood sample

(xvii)   all veterinary examinations including but not limited to endoscopic or radiographic examinations.

(3)  Details of the treatment administered to any horse must be entered into the log book on the day of the administration.

(4)  A trainer shall upon request produce such log book or register for inspection by the Stewards.

(5)  A trainer shall retain possession of a log book for a period of two years.

(6)  A trainer who fails to comply with the provisions of sub-rule (1), (3), (4) or (5) is guilty of an offence.

In relation to charge 1, pursuant to AHRR 256(6) Stewards determined that a conviction would be recorded, however, Stewards did not impose a penalty on Mr Druitt as they were satisfied to the requisite standard that the detection of halostachine was most likely as a result of contamination from within or around the stable environment.

In relation to Charge 2, Stewards imposed a $500 fine.

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

• The circumstances of this matter including evidence of Dr Wainscott;
• Mr Druitt’s licence history, offence record, training and driving records since being licensed in 1975;
• Mr Druitt’s personal subjective facts;
• Mr Druitt’s first prohibited substance matter;
• Class 2 Prohibited Substance;
• Mr Druitt’s guilty plea.

Mr Druitt was informed of his right to appeal.

Pursuant to AHRR 195 the horse BURTON was disqualified from the abovementioned race.

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