Eight horses caught up in Morphine controversy
Seven horses had been reported to have tested positive for the banned substance, the highest profile of which being Estimate, but that figure has now grown.
A statement issued by the BHA read: “Further to the already reported seven samples testing positive for morphine, BHA can confirm an additional finding from within one of the yards that has already produced a positive.
“Once the outstanding ’B’ sample analysis is complete, BHA will be able to confirm the identities of all the horses whose samples returned positive results.”
Michael Stoute confirmed that Estimate and stablemate Russian Realm had shown traces of the drug, while Tony Carroll, Eve Johnson Houghton, Gay Kelleway and Charlie Hills have also said they train horses which had returned positives.
The BHA said that, with the exception of one case, the circumstances about which the positive samples were found were very similar and “point to the source of the positive test being contaminated horse feed”.
Racing’s rulers said the other case was still likely to be linked with contaminated feed, but that there was a “difference in the circumstances” to the rest.
To that end, all but one of the cases will collectively be heard by a disciplinary panel of the BHA. The other case will be heard separately.
The BHA said: “Investigations have established that in all but one of the cases the circumstances are very similar and point to the source of the positive test being contaminated horse feed.
“The intention is for all these cases to be heard together by the disciplinary panel.”
Should the BHA disciplinary panel find that the source of the positives was contaminated feed, sanctions against those trainers involved will not occur - assuming they have “taken all reasonable precautions to safeguard against a positive test.”
