Trainers Hasranah, Prime banned

Trainers Francis Hasranah and Christopher Prime have been banned for the remainder of the racing season by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority

The lengthy suspensions were given to both trainers at a hearing by the TTRA yesterday into a prohibitive substance found in the urine/blood sample of Rhythm Divine. Rhythm Divine, who won the Optional claiming $6,000 event at Santa Rosa Park on  January 18, was detected with the drug norpseudoephedrine, a prohibitive substance which falls in class three of the Uniform Classification list. Hasranah, who was granted a renewal of his trainers’ badge five years ago was listed as the trainer of Rhythm Divine. He was not present at the races on the day his charge won.

The past champion jockey was injured in a spill at the height of his career and was paralysed from the waist down in the pile-up. Hasranah ran afoul as a trainer with the TTRA over a decade ago and was given a three-year ban, after his charge Corporate Affair was detected to have a prohibited substance. Prime, who holds a private licence acted on behalf of Hasranah on the day Rhythm Divine was victorious. Both trainers have also been debarred from entering the racecourse premises pursuant to 63 (9) of the Rules of Racing. Rhythm Divine was disqualified from first position of the race in question..

The revised results of the 1200 metres sprint now reads: 1. Justice, 2. Storming Wind, 3. Hazey Hill, 4. Yankee. Their suspensions follow closely on the heels of trainer Neil Greaves, who was fined $500 and disqualified for six months for breaching similar rules in April.