Henderson charged as horse tests positive for drug
Leading jumps trainer Nicky Henderson has been charged by the British Horseracing Authority in connection with a positive sample from Moonlit Path following a race at Huntingdon in February.
A urine sample from Moonlit Path after she had finished unplaced in the TurfTV Mares Novices Hurdle was found by the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory to contain tranexamic acid, a prohibited substance.
The finding was confirmed by Laboratoire des Courses Hippiques, who performed the counter analysis.
The Seven Barrows handler has been charged with a breach of Rule 53 and Rule 200, in that he "allowed or caused to be administered, or connived at the administration of, tranexamic acid, under the brand name Cyklokapron, to the mare either with the intention of affecting her racing performance or in the knowledge that her racing performance could be affected by such".
The disciplinary panel of the BHA will also consider whether Henderson is in breach of Rule 221B(i) in that he "allowed the substance to be given to the mare by injection on the morning of racing, without seeking and obtaining dispensation from a veterinary officer as set out in Instruction C9 and that he failed to keep a record of 'a treatment' as required by Instruction C8".
An inquiry is due to be held in June, on a date to be confirmed.
Henderson issued a statement, in which he said: "Unfortunately Moonlit Path tested positive for a prohibited substance after finishing sixth on her debut at Huntingdon.
"The substance concerned was administered by my vet entirely in the interests of the horse's welfare, which is always paramount. There was no intention to enhance performance and it is worth pointing out that we won the race in question with the odds-on Ravello Bay.
"We have co-operated fully with the BHA throughout their investigation and I would prefer to make no further comment before the hearing."
The six-year-old Moonlit Path, who is owned by The Queen, has run twice since her sixth-placed finish at Huntingdon, finishing fourth of 13 on both occasions, the latest of which came at Southwell last month.
