Leading trainer Gary Hall pleads guilty

On Thursday July 27 2016, Harness Racing New South Wales (HRNSW) Stewards conducted an inquiry into a report received from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that synephrine had been detected in the urine sample taken from MY HARD COPY NZ prior to it running in race 7, the SEW-EURODRIVE MIRACLE MILE (1609 metres) conducted at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Sunday February 28, 2016.

The ‘B’ sample was confirmed by Racing Analytical Services Limited (RASL) in Victoria.

The Inquiry was conducted via teleconference during which time Mr Gary Hall Snr and Mr Clinton Hall presented evidence in relation to MY HARD COPY NZ and husbandry practices. 

Mr Clinton Hall confirmed that MY HARD COPY NZ was presented to the HRNSW Retention Facility on Friday February 26, 2016, at which time a blood sample was obtained. 

HRNSW Stewards presented evidence confirming that the blood sample had returned a negative result for synephrine.

HRNSW Stewards presented a report from The Royal Botanical Gardens, National Herbarium of NSW confirming that an inspection of the HRNSW Retention Facility failed to locate any plants of the species Juncus usitatus (Common Rush) which is known to contain synephrine.

HRNSW Stewards also presented an agronomist report confirming that a further inspection of the HRNSW Retention Facility also failed to locate any plants capable of producing synephrine.

Mr Gary Hall Snr pleaded guilty to a  charge issued pursuant to Rule 190 (1), (2) & (4) for presenting MY HARD COPY NZ to race not free of a prohibited substance, being synephrine.

In respect of that charge, Stewards did not impose a penalty on Mr Gary Hall Snr as they were satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the detection of synephrine had resulted from contamination, with the most likely cause of that contamination being lucerne chaff which was provided to the horse during the time that it was within the HRNSW Retention Facility.  

In considering penalty Stewards were mindful of the following:

• The report issued by the Royal Botanical Gardens, National Herbarium of NSW;

• The Agronomist report issued;

• The circumstances of the contamination;

• Mr Gary Hall Snr’s licence history.        

Acting under the provisions of Rule 195, MY HARD COPY NZ was disqualified from the abovementioned race.

Mr Gary Hall Snr was advised of his right to appeal this decision.

Reid Sanders

For details on Synephrine click on these links;

https://examine.com/supplements/synephrine/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synephrine