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Racing: Jamie Richards Ellerslie record in jeopardy after Vamos Bebe s irregular drug test
14 Jan, 2021 09:10 AM
3 minutes to read
Vamos Bebe returned a post-race urine sample irregularity. Photo / Trish Dunell
NZ Herald
By: Michael Guerin
Jamie Richards record of six training wins in a day at Ellerslie is in jeopardy after one of his Boxing Day winners returned an irregularity in a post-race test.
But the champion trainer s licence is not believed to be in danger as racing investigators suspect a case of cross-contamination.
Richards trained an Ellerslie record six winners at the Boxing Day meeting but one of them, Vamos Bebe, has returned a post-race urine sample irregularity, which the
“Where there are breaches of animal welfare rules, MPI investigates,” said a spokesperson. “The suspension of racing at any track is a question for its operators and the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit, which have oversight. MPI does not have the legal power to close a track.”
Warwick Smith/Stuff
Eight greyhounds have been euthanised in the past month. The five dogs were euthanised between December 18 and January 6 after suffering a variety of sport-induced injuries, which included fractured and dislocated hocks, a fractured hind tarsal bone and a ruptured stomach. One dog was euthanised following gastric dilation and volvulus, which occurs when there is a twisting or knotting of the intestines.
Source: 1 NEWS
SAFE says there have been eight greyhounds die to due to injuries sustained at racetracks since December 18 - five of which were at Whanganui s Hatrick Raceway.
Spokesperson for the agency Will Appelbe is calling for immediate closure of the track for an investigation. While Kiwis enjoyed their unstoppable summer, the greyhound death toll has soared over the last three weeks, he said.
On December 18, one dog was euthanised in Whanganui after suffering a significant fracture to the right hock, then on December 22, a dog which suffered a fractured hock was euthanised in Palmerston North, he said.
A hock is a dog s equivalent to a human ankle.
Ovens said he would get “Mitch the help he needs to tackle the terrible addiction disease he has”. “And helping his amazing parents who are sticking by him even though their lives have been destroyed by their son’s disease as well.
Kirk Hargreaves/Stuff
Trainer Paul Kerr celebrates with his son, Mitchell, after Pay Me Christian won the NRM Sire s Stakes Series final at Addington in 2005. “I have raced horses with Paul (Mitchell s father) for 35 years, and he is a dedicated, talented, respectful person, trainer and father.” Ovens suggested the media coverage so far contained a number of mistakes but did not say what they were.