Qld stewards order scratchings after raid

Stewards scratched four horses trained by Toowoomba’s Robert Smith from races at two tracks after he was allegedly found with needles and syringes.

Stewards ordered two horses which were set to run at the Gold Coast and two horses entered at Nanango be scratched following a stable inspection at Toowoomba on Saturday morning.

Tocokoe and Madam Mahal were scratched from the Gold Coast and Purple Gem and Boomtown Babe were scratched from Nanango.

An Integrity Investigations Team inspected Smith’s stables where they allegedly found him in possession of needles and syringes.

In a media statement, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission boss Ross Barnett said a QRIC veterinarian attended to take swabs from all four horses and also the needles and syringes that were seized.

The samples would be sent for analysis.

Barnett said Smith has denied any breaches of the rules of racing but the stewards acted swiftly to ensure the integrity of today’s races while investigations continued.