A growing number of racing stables across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania have been embroiled in the mysterious string of positive swabs to a breast cancer drug and a banned anabolic steroid.
Betsy understands that 24 thoroughbred and harness racing stables have been implicated in the saga, the most recent involving a trainer whose horse tested positive to the substances after racing at The Valley on Cox Plate Day last spring.
All positives were first detected in post-race urine samples tested by the RASL lab in Victoria, which is part-owned by Racing Victoria.
The first five stables charged with presenting horses to race with Formestane and its derivative 4-Hydroxytestosterone in their system will front a plea hearing at the Victorian Racing Tribunal on 25 February.
It is expected that these cases could provide a template for how other cases are managed by Stewards and the VRT.
On Monday, Betsy reported that the five stables – Mark and Levi Kavanagh, Amy and Ash Yargi, Julius Sandhu, Smiley Chan and Symon Wilde – had reached an important agreement with Racing Victoria following a five-day hearing at the VRT in December.
A key part of the agreement was RV withdrawing testimony during the hearing from its vet Dr Edwina Wilkes that the probable cause of the positives was administration.
The governing body will concede that it cannot explain how the horses came to have the banned substances in their post-race urine samples.
Despite maintaining their innocence and repeatedly stating they have no knowledge of how the horses came to have the banned substances in their post-race urine samples, each of the five trainers will plead guilty to the presentation charge.
They remain subject to a potential penalty from the VRT, should the tribunal deem one suitable.
It is understood their collective legal bills have exceeded $100,000 and, while several considered fighting the case further to clear their name, the emotional and financial toll has already had a huge impact on their businesses.
Patrick Payne and Tom Dabernig were hit with similar charges for Formestane and 4-Hydroxytestosterone positives by RV in 2025, while Lloyd Kennewell has been notified about a positive to one of his horses in mid-2025.
RV has not publicly released details about the other cases involving thoroughbred trainers in the state.
The case involving a thoroughbred trainer in South Australia has been adjourned by local stewards.
