Trainer Bourke suspended for cobalt

YESTERDAY, the Victorian Racing Tribunal considered a charge issued by Harness Racing Victoria stewards against licensed trainer-driver Heath Bourke under Australian Harness Racing Rule (AHRR) 190(1).

AHRR 190(1) reads as follows:

A horse shall be presented for a race free of prohibited substances.

The charge related to a urine sample collected from the horse Basha Bourke following it competing in the Springfest Ballarat Pace at the Ballarat on September 19, 2019.

Racing Analytical Services Limited reported the sample contained cobalt in excess of the allowable threshold.

Bourke was also charged with a breach of AHRR 190B(1) being that he failed to keep and maintain a log book in accordance with the rules.

Bourke pleaded guilty to both charges before submissions on penalty were heard from the HRV stewards and Bourke.

Penalty

Charge 1 – AHRR 190(1) – 12-month suspension of all licenses. The suspension was deemed to commence immediately.

Charge 2 – AHRR 190B(1) – $250 fine.

The VRT also ordered that, under AHRR 195, Basha Bourk be disqualified and that the placings be amended accordingly.

Further to that, the VRT ordered that under AHRR 200(1) any prizemoney won by Basha Bourke from the race be refunded to HRV.

• HRV Media