Trainer Garnesh Lal fined, banned

A trainer was fined yesterday and had his licence suspended. And another trainer and an owner had their appeal  disallowed by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority. Trainer Garnesh Lal was fined $500 and disqualified from training horses for two months and debarred from entering the racecourse premises for the banned period. The penalties were handed down at an enquiry held by the TTRA on Tuesday into the finding of the drug Phenylbutazone and its metabolites Oxyphenbutazone and Gamma hydroxyphenylbutazone (Class 1V drug under the Rules),  in the urine sample of his runner, Dealer’s Choice. Lal’s ban went into effect yesterday and will end on October 10.

Dealer’s Choice was the winner of Race 1/Day 20 of the 2004 racing season held at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on July 10. The daughter of Kdanzc/ Real Windy was disqualified from first position in the 1200 metres event, but the ban imposed on her from racing has been lifted. At the enquiry in which due consideration was given to the evidence, the Authority acted in accordance with the provisions of No 100 (B) (4) of the Rules of Racing. The groom of the three-year-old filly was exonerated from any blame in the incident. The revised results of the event now reads: 1. Majestic; 2. Second Chances; 3. Sweet N’ Beautiful; 4. Bandikoot.

Also heard on the same day was the appeal lodged by Harriram Gobin (trainer) and Richard Smith (owner of City Of Lights) against the decision of the stewards of the Arima Race Club. City of lights was disqualified from first place arising out of an incident in Race 2/Day 21, held on July 24. After hearing the grouses of both parties, and the evidence of Cedric Coussement, steward of the ARC, the authority was of the view that there was no merit in the grounds of appeal. They sided with the decision of the stewards to promote Groomsman ahead of City Of Lights in the 1800 metres contest for $14,000 claimers.