GRV Stewards yesterday inquired into an incident that occurred in the kennelling area during a race meeting held at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday 12 July 2018. After taking evidence from GRV Stewards Mr. Bernard Blood, Ms. Lee Fahry and Licensed Trainer Mr. Michael Said, the Stewards issued a charge to Mr. Said under GAR 86 (q).

The specifics of the charge were that in the kennelling area during a race meeting held at the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday 12 July 2018, Mr Michael Said engaged in conduct which is detrimental or prejudicial to the interests and image of greyhound racing by referring to GRV Official Mr Bernard Blood in an insulting manner and swore on several occasions with a raised voice, in view of other participants and officials. Mr. Said pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $500.

In determining penalty, stewards took into consideration Mr. Said’s record with GRV, his guilty plea, his personal antecedence and the forthright way he conducted himself before the Stewards today. Against these factors, stewards considered the nature and gravity of the incident, other similar behavioural related cases, the need to deter other participants to act in this manner and to denounce this incident as unacceptable. All participants should note that a trainer’s license is a privilege and not a right and that real consequences await for this type of behaviour. Save for some areas of mitigation that was applied to Mr. Said, the nominal penalty would have been higher. Due to some areas of mitigation and the apologies to the officials by Mr Said, the Stewards have suspended $200 of the $500 penalty, for 12 months, pending no further conduct related offences in this time. 

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Miss Murino was slow to begin.  Miyagi Magic, Aston Sultan and Applied collided approaching Aston Sultan and Applied.  Knocker's Gold and Winning Broke collided approaching the first turn checking Knocker's Gold.  Aston Sultan checked off Miss Murino approaching the first turn.  Miss Murino raced wide entering the home straight.  Knocker's Gold raced wide in the home straight.

Living Daylights was slow to begin.  Crackerjack Skip and Falconetti collided soon after the start checking Falconetti.  Riley's Paige, Texas and Crackerjack Skip collided approaching the first turn checking Texas and Crackerjack Skip.  Riley's Paige checked off Loading Zone approaching the first turn.  Texas and Crackerjack Skip collided on the first turn checking Crackerjack Skip.  Living Daylights checked off Snags McKenzie in the home straight.

A pre-race sample was taken from My Boy Joey. 

Moon Prince and Mustang Bay collided soon after the start checking Moon Prince.  Mustang Bay crossed to the rail approaching the first turn checking My Boy Joey, Mottza and Joffa's Mate.  My Boy Joey, Mottza and Mustang Bay collided on the first turn, severely checking My Boy Joey and Joffa's Mate.   My Boy Joey and Mustang Bay collided in the home straight. Mottza and Moon Prince collided in the home straight.

A pre-race sample was taken from Tinaca De Kahn. 

Chief Command, Blackpool Blast and Eden Lass collided soon after the start checking Blackpool Blast and Eden Lass.  Ginza Lion checked off Mousey McCoy approaching the first turn.  Ginza Lion and Eden Lass collided approaching the home turn checking Ginza Lion.  Eden Lass and More Moment collided entering the home straight checking More Moment.  Tinaca De Kahn checked off Ginza Lion in the home straight.

Stewards spoke to Trainer, Mr A. Sacco regarding the direction that the greyhound Ginza Lion be boxed first. Acting under GAR 52(2) Stewards directed that this box first be removed.

A pre-race sample was taken from Bobby The Jett.

Kiss Me Razley was quick to begin.  Bobby The Jett, Telefork and Alezan collided soon after the start checking Bobby The Jett and Telefork.  Fast Freddie checked off One Step Ahead approaching the first turn.  Boona Lad, Alezan and Kiss Me Razley collided on the first turn checking Alezan.  One Step Ahead and Telefork collided approaching the home turn checking One Step Ahead.  One Step Ahead clipped the heels of Alezan approaching the home turn checking both greyhounds.

Boona Lad was vetted following the event.  It was reported that there was no apparent injury found.

A pre-race sample was taken from Chum's Special.

Zipping Harper was slow to begin.  Zipping Harper checked off Winlock Dyno soon after the start.  Poke The Bear and Go Jotto collided on the first turn checking Go Jotto.  Chum's Special raced wide in the home straight.

Zipping Harper was vetted following the event.  It was reported that the greyhound sustained an injury to the left fibula, a 28 day stand down period was imposed.

Stewards spoke to Mr. P. Brennan, the kennel representative of Zing Zang Zena regarding the length of time the greyhound has had between races.  Zing Zang Zena last raced on the 10th April, 2018.  Mr. Brennan stated that the greyhound was returning to racing after being on season.

A pre-race sample was taken from Our Didda.

Con Rod and Regazzoni were quick to begin.  Our Didda, Fast Izzi and Cosmic Kilby collided approaching the first turn checking Cosmic Kilby.  Our Didda and Fast Izzi collided on the first turn checking Fast Izzi.  Panadero King checked off Zing Zang Zena approaching the home turn.  Fast Izzi checked off Regazzoni approaching the winning post.

Lonnie Knight, Mr. Uggboot and Zipping Katelyn were slow to begin.  Mepunga Laser, Steve's Uggboot and Van Ann collided on the first turn checking Steve's Uggboot.  Van Ann checked off Mepunga Laser entering the back straight.  Zipping Katelyn checked off Van Ann approaching the second turn.  Mr. Uggboot and Zipping Katelyn collided in the home straight checking Zipping Katelyn.

A sample was taken from Van Ann, placed 3rd in the event.

A pre-race sample was taken from Bomber's Baby.

Marcus Joy, Dyna Bobbi and Chrissy Pee were quick to begin.  Augustus Dagloop, Bomber's Baby and Blackpool Alexis collided on the first turn checking Augustus Dagloop.  Bomber's Baby and Blackpool Alexis collided approaching the home turn causing Bomber's Baby to contact the running rail and lost ground as a result.  County Crossing checked off Marcus Joy approaching the home turn.  Augustus Dagloop and County Crossing raced wide in the home straight.

Bomber's Baby was vetted following the event.  It was reported that there was no apparent injury found.

A pre-race sample was taken from Avatar Minty.

Zoom Out was slow to begin.  Destini Cheetah and Avatar Minty collided approaching the first turn checking Destini Cheetah.  Brake Drum, Zoom Out and Avatar Minty collided on the first turn checking Brake Drum and Avatar Minty.  Equanimity and Zoom Out collided approaching the home turn checking Zoom Out.  Brake Drum checked off Zoom Out on the home turn.  Brake Drum and Destini Cheetah collided entering the home straight causing Brake Drum to become unbalanced and collide with Zoom Out and Avatar Minty, checking all three greyhounds.

Zoom Out was vetted following the event.  It was reported that there was no apparent injury found.

An Out Of Competition sample was taken from Percy's Empire, scratched from this event, on the 23rd July, 2018, pursuant to GAR 79A.

A pre-race sample was taken from Dodge An' Steele.

Dodge An' Steele and Amigo Two collided approaching the first turn checking Dodge An' Steele.  Dodge An' Steele checked off Amigo Two on the first turn.  Winston Cruise and She's Wicked collided in the home straight checking She's Wicked.

Leica Cali King was a late scratching at 3.05pm due to injury (lame) (GAR 23).  A 10 day stand down period was imposed. Stewards will require a veterinary certificate before any future nomination will be accepted. 

A pre-race sample was taken from Summer Skye.

Kiss Me Nicki was quick to begin.  Nitro Value and Trouper collided soon after the start.  Summer Skye, Trouper and Why Not Kez collided on the first turn checking Trouper.  Kiss Me Nicki and Why Not Kez collided approaching the home turn checking Why Not Kez.