Small To Face Charges Later This Month

Monday, 03 May 2010 05:46

Controversial New Zealand harness racing trainer Geoff Small is to face drugs charges in Victoria later this month.

Harness Racing Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board chairman Brian Collis has directed the charges be heard on May 24 and 25.

Stewards have said Small's pacer Zenad had the prohibited substance aminocaproic acid in his system when he won at Moonee Valley on February 7 last year.

The substance was detected in a urine sample after the race.

The charges involve the administering of the drug and presenting the horse to race while the drug was in its system.

Small was disqualified for two years by NSW stewards in 2009 after his star pacer Changeover tested positive to anti-bleeding drug tranexamic acid.

But he appealed successfully and the ban was quashed with Changeover retaining the race, after the appeal judge ruled the drug was not prohibited under Australian harness racing rules.

Small was also successful in having a six-month ban in New Zealand lifted earlier this year over his late withdrawal of All Tiger from a race at Addington last October and subsequent abuse of veterinarian Corin Murfitt.

The suspension was replaced with a $10,000 fine on appeal after it was found the vet was not a club official under the rules of racing.