PROMINENT RIVERINA trainer David Kennedy has been banned for three months and fined $2000 after one of his charges returned a positive drug swab.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kennedy pleaded guilty to the charge in a special disciplinary hearing in Wagga yesterday.
Littlechrissyadios returned a positive swab for Ibuprofen following its win in the $5000 Yellow Tail Wines Griffith Cup (2150m) on November 1.
Kennedy trained three winners on the day.
The Leeton trainer has been in the industry for 27 years and was the first in the region to train more than 100 winners in a season.
Kennedy's long standing and previously unblemished record saved him from a heavier penalty.
Harness Racing NSW regulatory manager Reid Sanders flew into Wagga for the hearing.
The inquiry took almost two hours before the findings were handed down.
Riverina steward Anthony Pearce said the pain killer was a banned substance on race day.
"David was at a loss to explain how it got into his horse's system but accepted that is was," he said.
"It's not banned around the stables as it is used to treat injuries, however, it is banned during race meetings."
Pearce said Kennedy had told the inquiry he was treating another horse with the pain killer but was unsure how it had been transferred.
Kennedy has the right to appeal his penalty.
The Daily Advertiser attempted to contact Kennedy but he did not return phone calls yesterday.
The stable has already moved to change the listed trainer for future meetings.
When fields for Wagga's meeting on Saturday night were released, Kennedy was no longer listed as the trainer of his pacers.
The pacers were listed under the care of his father Laurie Kennedy and nephew Jack Painting.
