STRATHFIELDSAYE trainer Glenn Douglas will appeal a six-month disqualification handed down to him by the Harness Racing Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Thursday.
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Douglas, stablehand/registered owner Eric Anderson and vet Dr Sarah Jalim faced the HRV RAD Board in relation to their handling of the Douglas-trained pacer Talk To The Hand at Bendigo on August 21 last year.
Anderson was also disqualified for six months, while Dr Jalim was severely reprimanded.
“We’ve put in for a stay of proceedings and we’ll appeal ,’’ Douglas said on Thursday.
Douglas pleaded guilty to 10 charges and was found guilty of a further charge, while Anderson pleaded guilty to six charges.
The charges were issued after an HRV stewards investigation found that Talk To The Hand became unwell when it arrived at Lord’s Raceway on August 21.
The horse’s health quickly deteriorated resulting in the horse being assisted onto a float by Anderson, Douglas and Dr Jalim before the horse was euthanised by Dr Jalim, then on-course vet at the Bendigo Harness Racing Club.
The RAD Board was told that HRV Stewards were not informed by Douglas, Anderson or Dr Jalim that the horse had been euthanised.
Anderson pleaded guilty to hindering the stewards inquiry by arranging and conducting the burial of Talk To The Hand at Boundary Bend.
Stewards found Anderson used asbestos piping which inhibited the extent of the post-mortem autopsy conducted on the horse.
Anderson also told HRV Stewards in an interview that the carcass of Talk To The Hand had been burned when the horse had in fact been buried.
Douglas falsely advised stewards that the horse had been treated and taken home from the track when in fact the horse had been euthanised. He also informed stewards that he found the horse dead on the morning of August 22.
Dr Jalim pleaded guilty to one charge for conduct leading to or could lead to a breach of the rules.
Stewards found that Dr Jalim was negligent for failing to immediately notify them of her actions to euthanise Talk To The Hand.