By Lewis Porteous 18:20PM 17 JUL 2014
THE BHA revealed on Thursday that the post-race samples of five horses have tested positive for morphine, a prohibited raceday substance, and warned there may be more to come.
The five horses are said to be "under the care of various trainers" although it appears the BHA will not be making public any information regarding the identity of the horses, trainers or owners in the immediate future.
At least one of the five is understood to be trained in Newmarket and tested positive after a recent win and so is likely to be disqualified. There may be more positives yet to emerge, the BHA cautioned. There was speculation last night that contaminated feed may be the source of the positive tests.
A statement from the BHA read: "The British Horseracing Authority has been notified by LGC analytical laboratory that a number of post-race samples obtained from recent race meetings have been found, upon analysis of the 'A' samples, to have present in them morphine, a prohibited substance on raceday under the rules. BHA have received certificates of analysis to this effect.
"In total five horses under the care of various trainers have so far been reported to show the presence of morphine in their ‘A' samples. BHA will not make public any information regarding the identity of the horses, trainers or owners, the races they competed in or the dates on which the samples were taken until all necessary processes - including counter analysis of respective ‘B' samples if requested by those connected with any of the horses, and our own investigations - are completed.
"BHA are investigating whether - owing to the cluster of the cases and the substance involved - there may be any link between the cases and, if so, what that link might be. Owing to the shared characteristics of these cases it is not possible to rule out the reporting of further positive detections from post-race samples obtained in recent weeks. BHA have been in communication with the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and trainers of the horses in question on this matter.
"Once all processes have been completed the cases will be put before a disciplinary panel who will decide what action, if any, should be taken. This may include the disqualification of the horses in question from the relevant races."
Be My Royal tested positive for morphine after his win in the 2002 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury. His trainer Willie Mullins mounted a long-running but ultimately unsuccessful legal battle with the Jockey Club after Be My Royal was stripped of his victory.
Mullins argued his charge was the "victim of serious injustice", claiming the decision had been "arbitrary, capricious and irrational" because the drug found in Be My Royal's urine was due to innocent feed contamination..
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