Australian racing has been rocked by serious charges levelled against eight racing identities, all of them trainers or staff employed by the powerful Aquanita training centre, one of the biggest racehorse-training businesses in the nation with a multi-million-dollar turnover.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The eight people were officially charged on Tuesday afternoon following a comprehensive integrity investigation by Racing Victoria.
Trainer Robert Smerdon is accused of 115 instances of "administration of alkalising agents and/or medications to a horse or horses on a race day" dating to 2010. Stablehand Greg Nelligan faces charges relating to 123 occasions during the same period.
The other six people charged are Tony Vasil, Liam Birchley, Trent Pennuto and Stuart Webb, all trainers, and Denise Nelligan and Daniel Garland.
Integrity officers are considering standing down all of the charged.
The investigation began after the alleged race-day treatment at Flemington racecourse on Turnbull Stakes Day of the Smerdon-trained Lovani.
It is alleged that Aquanita Racing staff were observed taking Lovani into the swabbing stall at Flemington racecourse and administering an oral substance to the horse.
At this time most of the crowd were watching world champion mare Winx make her return to Melbourne racing.
However, the investigation into Lovani's treatment has uncovered an alleged wider web of corrupt practices dating back many years.
The eight trainers and stablehands have been charged under AR 175(a): "Any person who, in [the stewards'] opinion, has been guilty of any dishonest, corrupt or fraudulent, improper or dishonourable action or practice in connection with racing."
The Age understands this rule has rarely been used. .
Smerdon was third behind Darren Weir and David Hayes in last year's Victorian training premiership. He is also a multiple group 1-winning trainer.
Racing Victoria's integrity department has been pressing hard to eliminate any race-day treatments over the past two years with severe penalties being handed out to offenders by the Racing and Disciplinary Appeals Board in recent times.
The Age understands that Smerdon is the first trainer to allegedly be caught treating a horse at the races on race day in more than 15 years.
Webb faces three charges, Vasil seven charges and Queensland-based Birchley three charges. All three are group 1-winning trainers.
Denise Nelligan faces 13 charges and Garland faces two, while ex-Aquanita employee Pennuto faces four charges.
Racing Victoria integrity chairman Terry Bailey had no comment "as the investigation is still ongoing".
