Mr Robert Garrett - 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 Methylamphetamine was detected in the post-race urine sample taken from KALKADOON DREAMING following its win in race 4, the NUTRIEN EQUINE BATHURST SALE 22ND MARCH PACE (1760 metres) conducted at Junee on Tuesday 17 March 2026.

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

Mr Garrett appeared at the Inquiry and presented evidence in relation to his registered training establishment, the horse KALKADOON DREAMING and maintenance work conducted by unlicensed person Mr Paul Cheney at his registered training establishment, including farriery work.

Mr Cheney also attended the Inquiry and provided evidence in relation to his residence upon the property where Mr Garrett’s registered training establishment was located and the work he had engaged in while on the property.

HRNSW Assistant Regulatory Veterinarian Dr Edwina Lawson attended and provided evidence to the Inquiry. The certificates of analysis issued by ARFL and RASL were also entered into evidence, together with the results of analysis for soil samples and other items obtained from Mr Garrett’s registered training establishment by HRNSW Investigator Ms Suzanne Campbell. The results of analysis confirmed the presence of methylamphetamine in some of those items.

Mr Garrett was found guilty of a charge 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.

HRNSW Stewards imposed a fine of $2,000 upon Mr Garrett.

In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following;

• Mr Garrett’s 2nd Prohibited Substance offence;
• Class 1 Prohibited Substance and the extremely serious nature of the prohibited substance;
• Mr Garrett’s involvement in the harness racing industry as a licensed person since being initially licensed 59 years ago, his training and driving performance records, together with his harness racing offence record;
• Mr Garrett’s personal and financial subjective matters;
• The involvement and conduct of Mr Cheney;
• The circumstances involved in this matter;
• Industry Notices issued by HRNSW in relation to the potential for contamination within the stable environment;
• Mr Garrett’s personal and financial subjective matters;

Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, the horse KALKADOON DREAMING was disqualified from the abovementioned race.

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

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