Begg cops fine for anti-inflammatory drug positive

Racing Victoria stewards have fined trainer Grahame Begg $1500 after Meloxicam was detected in a pre-race blood sample taken from Shades Of Pink before the horse finished sixth in the Ladbrokes Odds Surge Maiden Plate (1100m) at Southside Pakenham on June 22 this year.

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved for use in horses but prohibited when detected in samples taken at race meetings and trials.

Begg pleaded guilty to a charge under Australian Rule of Racing 240(2) after the pre-race sample returned a positive result for the substance.

In determining the penalty, stewards considered Begg’s guilty plea, cooperation with the inquiry, the inadvertent administration resulting from human error, his exemplary record with no previous breaches of the rule, and the need for general deterrence.

Stewards also disqualified Shades Of Pink from the race under AR 240(1) and amended the placings accordingly.