Stewards Activity

Swabbing Numbers

• Swabs taken 2021 – 2022 financial year (01/07/2021 – 30/06/2022) = 10666
• Swabs taken 2022 – 2023 financial year = 8649

Prosecutions Overview

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Joseph Sultana – VCAT Hearing 15 March 2022 – GAR83(2), failed to present the greyhound “Panadero Grace” free of the prohibited substances ‘Morphine’, ‘Codeine’, ‘Oripavine’, and ‘Thebaine’ for an event at Cranbourne on 2 August 2021. On 10 May 2022, the VRT imposed a 12-month disqualification. VCAT affirmed the decision of the VRT.

Victorian Racing Tribunal

Troy Dorrington – VRT Hearing 1 March 2023 – GAR141(1), failed to present the greyhound “Blue Bandana” free of the prohibited substance ‘Pentobarbitone’ for an event at Warragul on 16 June 2022. Mr Dorrington pleaded guilty. The VRT imposed a $2000 fine, with $1000 suspended for 12 months. “Blue Bandana” was disqualified from the event.

Cassendra Jayakody – VRT Hearing 8 March 2023 – GAR86(o) & GAR86(q), engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with a registered participant on 28 December 2021. Ms Jayakody pleaded not guilty to both charges. The VRT found Ms Jayakody guilty and imposed a 3-month suspension on each charge, wholly suspended for 24 months.

Allan Buckland – VRT Hearing 8 March 2023 – GAR86(o) & GAR86(q), engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with a registered participant on 28 December 2021. Mr Buckland pleaded not guilty to both charges. The VRT found Mr Buckland guilty and imposed a 3-month suspension on each charge, wholly suspended for 12 months.

Max Cameron – VRT Hearing 16 March 2023 – GAR83(1A), GAR83(2), GAR83A(3) & GAR84A(1), failed to present the greyhound “Just A Minute” free of, and caused to be administered, the prohibited substance ‘Cobalt’ for an event at Sale on 10 July 2022. Mr Cameron pleaded guilty to all charges. The VRT imposed a total suspension period of 12 months, with 9 months suspended for 24 months, in addition to $250 fine for failing to maintain treatment records.

Ron Cameron – VRT Hearing 16 March 2023 – GAR83(1A) & GAR83A(3), administered the prohibited substance ‘Cobalt’ to the greyhound “Just A Minute” on the day prior to an event at Sale on 10 July 2022. Mr Cameron pleaded guilty to both charges. The VRT imposed a total suspension period of 12 months, with 9 months suspended for 24 months.

Stephen Whyte – VRT Hearing 21 March 2023 – GAR83(2), failed to present the greyhounds “Mick’s Recall” and “Mick Flash” free of the prohibited substance ‘Salbutamol’ for events at The Meadows and Sandown on 19 February 2022 and 27 March 2022 respectively. Mr Whyte pleaded guilty to both charges. The VRT suspended Mr Whyte until 31 July 2023 and imposed a $3000 fine. “Mick’s Recall” and “Mick Flash” were disqualified from the events.

Jamie Hosking – VRT Hearing 21 March 2023 – GAR83(2), failed to present the greyhound “Mick’s Recall” free of the prohibited substance ‘Salbutamol’ for an event at The Meadows on 19 February 2022. Mr Hosking pleaded guilty. The VRT imposed a $250 fine, wholly suspended for 12 months. “Mick’s Recall” was disqualified from the event, and the Final of the event at The Meadows on 26 February 2022.

James Jeffries – VRT Hearing 21 March 2023 – GAR83(2), failed to present the greyhound “Mick Flash” free of the prohibited substance ‘Salbutamol’ for an Exhibition Trial at Sandown on 27 March 2022. Mr Jeffries pleaded guilty. The VRT imposed a $250 fine, wholly suspended for 12 months.

Corey Fulford – VRT Hearing 24 March 2023 – GAR141(1), failed to present the greyhound “Lilly’s Stripey” free of the prohibited substance ‘Arsenic’ for an event at Sale on 31 July 2022. Mr Fulford pleaded guilty. The VRT imposed a 6-month suspension, with 5 months suspended for 24 months. “Lilly’s Stripey” was disqualified from the event.

Vanessa Johnson – VRT Hearing 24 March 2023 – GAR141(1), failed to present the greyhound “Tower Bell” free of the prohibited substance ‘Arsenic’ for an event at Traralgon on 29 August 2022. Ms Johnson pleaded guilty. The VRT imposed a 6-month suspension, with 3 months suspended for 24 months. “Tower Bell” was disqualified from the event.

Danny Macdonald – VRT Hearing 24 March 2023 – GAR141(1), GAR142(1) & GAR151, failed to present the greyhound “Max Nipper” free of, and administered, the prohibited substance ‘Meloxicam’ for an event at Sale on 29 May 2022. Mr Macdonald pleaded guilty to all charges. The VRT imposed a 1-month suspension and a $1500 fine wholly suspended for 24 months, in addition to $300 fine for failing to maintain treatment records. “Max Nipper” was disqualified from the event.

Lui Forte – VRT Hearing 24 March 2023 – GAR83(2), failed to present the greyhounds “How High Austin”, “Here Runs Katie” and “Good Boy Colombo” free of the prohibited substances ‘Caffeine’, ‘Theophylline’, ‘Paraxanthine, ‘Theobromine’ and ‘Ibuprofen’ for events at Sale, Warragul and Traralgon on 13 March 2022, 24 March 2022 and 18 April 2022 respectively. Mr Forte pleaded guilty to all charges. The VRT imposed a total suspension period of 16 months, with 14 months suspended for 24 months, in addition to a $1500 fine. “How High Austin”, “Here Runs Katie” and “Good Boy Colombo” were disqualified from the events.

Joseph Abela – VRT Hearing 30 March 2023 – LRR42.9(a), LRR42.6 & GAR86(o), between 2016 and 2019, failed to comply with rehoming and euthanasia requirements in relation to four (4) greyhounds and engaged in misconduct relating to the retirement of nine (9) greyhounds. Mr Abela pleaded not guilty to all charges. The VRT found Mr Abela guilty on all charges and imposed a total suspension period of 15 months. This matter was appealed to VCAT and is awaiting outcome.

Dominic Crisafi – VRT Hearing 31 March 2023 – GAR142(1) & GAR141(1), failed to present the greyhound “Mediator” free of, and administered, the prohibited substance ‘Cobalt’ for an event at Sale on 10 July 2022. Mr Crisafi pleaded guilty to both charges. The VRT imposed a 12-month suspension on each charge, with 10 months suspended for 24 months. The VRT directed that these penalties are to be served concurrently. “Mediator” was disqualified from the event.

Stewards’ Hearing Reports

Trevor Whitford – Stewards Hearing 1 January 2023 – GAR165(a), On 24 October 2022, Mr Whitford engaged in loud and hostile conduct that was detrimental and/or prejudicial to the interests and control of greyhound racing when directed by the Stewards to have his greyhound examined by the On-Track Veterinarian at Traralgon. Mr Whitford pleaded guilty. Stewards imposed a $500 fine, with $250 suspended for 24 months.