Trainers Seek Audience Over Drug Testing

Monday, 21 November 2011 05:16

Racehorse trainers would be subjected to drug testing and a 0.02 alcohol level under proposed amendments to the Australian Racing Rules.

The Australian Racing Board has proposed trainers, stablehands and any "horse handler" be subject to stringent recreational drug and alcohol testing.

The NSW Trainers Association has asked for an urgent meeting with the ARB and Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys.

NSWTA chief executive Steve McMahon said if the ARB was so concerned about occupational health and safety it should concentrate on improving the state of race and training tracks.

"We would never condone the abuse of drugs and alcohol and all we are asking at this stage is a common sense approach," McMahon said.

"One of the proposed rule changes could see any `horse handler' with a blood alcohol reading of 0.02 fined or suspended.

"If a stablehand has a night out with his or her mates and has a few drinks and then wakes up at 3am to sweep and clean the stables and they are 0.03, under these rules they could lose their job."

"It's hard enough as it is getting staff to who are willing to wake up at 3am to clean out horse stables feed to horses for relatively low wages."