NT trainer fined $26,000, banned

Territory horse trainer Stephen Brown was fined $HK150,000 ($26,000) and disqualified for three months in Macau after a star horse tested positive for steroids.

Macau Jockey Club stewards handed down the penalty last week after galloper Sky, trained by Brown, tested positive for testosterone.

The ruling marked the second time the former top Territory trainer has been heavily fined and disqualified for a positive drug test in Macau. The positive swab was taken after a Class 6 race won by Sky on November 12.

Brown stressed yesterday he was not charged with personally administering the banned substance.

“The stewards made it quite clear that I never got charged for administering,” he said.

“I only got charged for taking a horse to the races with a prohibited substance and it was something that was beyond my control.”

Brown, who moved to Macau last year, said yesterday he would appeal against the severity of the penalty. “I trained the horse, I took it to the races and I have to pay the penalty,” he said.

“My argument is that a mistake was made. I’m trying to get it changed to a suspension.

“If they do cut three or four weeks off that could put me in line with the Macau Derby in April.

“If I can get it cut down by about four or five meetings the fine would probably go up to about $A30,000 ($HK175,000) which I’d be pretty happy with. I am pretty confident.”

Brown said the setback was not the end of his career in Macau.

“I’d like to stay in Macau. I like Macau and there’s plenty of money to be earned here,” he said.

Last June, Brown was fined $HK100,000 ($A17,000) and disqualified for 21 meetings after equine protégé Perfect tested positive for the banned substance lidocaine after racing at the Macau track.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Tue, 10 January 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Chris Carter
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au/