On Thursday 18 December 2014 Greyhound Racing NSW Stewards conducted an inquiry into the aborted urine sample for the greyhound Abelia after it had won Race 9 at the Tamworth meeting on 15 November 2014 and was directed to be swabbed.
Evidence was taken from Abelia’s trainer Mark Craig, Tamworth GRC Steward Russell Jordan, Tamworth GRC Race Day Veterinarian Richard Hernando and licensed trainer Ranald Dawes.
From the submitted evidence it was established that Abelia was properly secured post race in the allocated security bays, however, when being retrieved for the purposes of sampling it was found that the security seal attached to Abelia’s kennel had been removed. Despite an exhaustive search of the kennels and surrounds, the seal in question could not be found.
In the particular circumstances of the case on the day, the sampling procedure was deemed to have been compromised and stewards aborted the swabbing process.
At the time of the incident no CCTV cameras were fitted within the Tamworth GRC kennel complex.
GRNSW stewards delivered an open finding on the incident, as they were unable to satisfy themselves as to the cause of removal of the seal. Stewards, however, have not closed the inquiry allowing for the matter to resume should any fresh evidence come to hand.
As a result of the incident, Tamworth GRC has installed security cameras in the kennel complex, with full coverage of the security swab bays.
