Trainer David Hayes urges stables to conduct own testing after horse returns positive to ‘ice’

By Patrick Bartley

Senior racing executives are urging trainers across Australia to adopt the policy of leading trainer David Hayes to drug test their staff, following the discovery of the drug “ice” in a Mornington-prepared horse.

Stewards said they were investigating whether Shopaholic, a recent winner at Echuca, was administered methamphetamine — also known as ice — or if the horse was contaminated in taking another illegal substance.

“It’s either one or the other, and we have asked for urine tests from the horse’s trainer, Matt Laurie, his current staff and former staff members to see if the horse was contaminated,” said Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey.

“If it is a matter of contamination, it’s a very worrying scenario and I think there is an obligation on trainers to look at drug testing.”

It’s understood that if an ice user handles a racehorse, especially if altering a bridle or handling the bit, contamination can occur.

Hayes, one of Australia’s leading trainers, said on Tuesday he drug tests his entire staff on a regular and random basis at his Echuca property.

Training more than 120 horses at a time, Hayes said there is no place for drugs, especially ice, in the racing industry.

“We have a zero policy here. We need to protect our bases when those using ice are erratic. Some could turn around and say well why didn’t you check on certain members of your staff.

“We don’t pick and choose, it’s

[an] everybody tested situation here. Ice lends itself to erratic, unreliable behaviour and of course presents the situation of contamination.

“There is no place for ice users in this industry and we see it as very much a necessity to have staff tested,” Hayes said.

Ice positives have also occurred in Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and with analysts now freely predicting that cases of contamination will become more frequent as the drug is so widely used in society.

Pressure will mount on the Australian Trainers’ Association, to implement a form of drug testing, to keep stables safe from those on ice.

Bailey added that it was a “scourge on society” and supported Hayes, maintaining there was no place for such substances in racing. However, Bailey said it would be an enormous stretch of resources by RVL investigators to randomly test every stablehand under their jurisdiction.

“We can’t be everywhere, all the time, so I think there’s an obligation on the trainers, as it is a workplace, to hold tests on a regular basis. And they will know better than me, what staff will be under suspicion and those who aren’t. It has all sorts of complications, not only contamination, but those riding trackwork,” he said.

Bailey said his department was now waiting for urine tests being analysed to see if Shopaholic was contaminated or administered ice.