Nelson Harness Racing Club Filly Disqualified Over Drug Test

In a recent incident at the Nelson Harness Racing Club meeting on January 10, 2025, a filly named Beside Me, trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, was disqualified from her win due to a race-day positive test for the prohibited substance Meloxicam. The Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $5,750 on the Dalgety training partnership as a result of the positive test. Beside Me, a 3-year-old filly, had won Race 2 at the meeting, owned by Charles Joseph Limited and earning a stake of $6,875.

The post-race blood sample revealed the presence of Meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory drug, exceeding the permissible level. The New Zealand Racing Laboratory Service confirmed the positive test, leading to the disqualification of Beside Me from the race. Meloxicam is commonly used for pain relief and inflammation in horses, with specific withholding times recommended to avoid positive tests.

Investigations revealed that Beside Me had not been treated with Meloxicam by the Dalgety stable. However, another Dalgety-trained horse had been prescribed Meloxicam previously, raising questions about potential cross-contamination. The source of the prohibited substance in Beside Me’s system remained unknown, despite thorough inquiries and negative tests from the filly’s environment.

The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) considered various penalty precedents in similar cases involving prohibited substances. The Dalgety partnership’s cooperation and lack of prior breaches since its establishment in 2021 were mitigating factors. However, Cran Dalgety’s past breaches of the Prohibited Substance Rules were taken into account in determining the penalty.

The RIB recommended a fine of $8,000 as a starting point, considering the need for accountability and deterrence in upholding the integrity of harness racing. Ultimately, the Adjudicative Committee imposed a fine of $5,750 on the Dalgety partnership, taking into account the circumstances of the case and the need for consistency with past decisions.

Beside Me was officially disqualified from her victory in Race 2 at Nelson on January 10, 2025, with amended placings and stakes to be adjusted accordingly. While the source of the prohibited substance remained unknown, the case highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards and integrity in harness racing to protect the sport’s reputation and fairness for all participants.