Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards concluded an Inquiry today that commenced on 10 October 2025 into reports received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that harpagoside was detected in the post-race urine samples taken from the following horses;
- BORROWED TIME following its win in Race 4 the HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY MICHAEL CARROLL PACE (1720 metres) at Dubbo on Friday 8 March 2024;
- ART OF TERROR following its win in Race 1 the TAB VENUE MODE PACE (1609 metres) at Tamworth on Thursday 28 March 2024;
- BORROWED TIME following its win in Race 3 the GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND LOCAL PACE HEAT 1 (1720 metres) at Dubbo on Friday 12 April 2024; and
- BORROWED TIME following its win in Race 2 the COFFEE PHOTOGRAPHY & FRAMING PACE (1720 metres) at Dubbo on Friday 10 May 2024.
The reserve portions and control samples were confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.
Trainer Mr Carroll appeared at the Inquiry with his legal representative Mr Peter Morris and provided evidence in relation to his registered training establishment, his husbandry practices and the horses BORROWED TIME and ART OF TERROR.
Evidence from HRNSW Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Martin Wainscott and the Certificates of Analysis from ARFL and RASL in relation to the urine samples were also presented to the Inquiry.
Mr Carroll pleaded guilty to four (4) charges issued by HRNSW Stewards pursuant to Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190 (1), (2) & (4) 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.
Mr Carroll was disqualified for a period of 18 months for each offence to be served concurrently and to commence immediately.
In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following;
- Mr Carroll’s 3rd Prohibited Substance offence;
- Class 3 Prohibited Substance;
- Mr Carroll’s involvement in the harness racing industry as a licensed person since the 1983/84 season;
- Mr Carroll’s training and driving records, together with his harness racing offence record;
- Mr Carroll’s subjective matters;
- The impact of a disqualification upon Mr Carroll from a personal and financial perspective.
Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, the horses BORROWED TIME and ART OF TERROR were disqualified from the abovementioned races.
Mr Carroll was informed of his right to appeals these decisions of HRNSW Stewards.
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