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Storm Street's trainer also fined $500

LAST YEAR'S Horse of the Year, Storm Street, has been disqualified from first place in the July 4 Derek Cozier Memorial Sprint and the $75,000 winner's cheque awarded to the connections of Summer Cactus.

This is according to a press release issued yesterday by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA).

The decision was arrived at following a meeting of racing's governing body last Wednesday into the finding of the prohibited substance, Methocarbamol, a class IV medication, in the urine sample taken from Storm Street on Day 24 (July 4) of the Arima Race Club's 2009 season.

Having taken into consideration evidence of Storm Street's trainer and groom, Christopher Prime and Eustace Joseph, respectively, along with submissions from attorneys representing Prime, at an enquiry into the matter, Prime was declared a disqualified person for a period of two years, effective from yesterday, from restricted areas under the ARC's jurisdiction at the Santa Rosa Racing Facility, Arima.

Pursuant to Rule 63 (9) of the Rules of Racing, Prime is debarred from the paddock, saddling enclosure, and weighing room.

In addition, the sport's ruling body also imposed a $500 fine on Prime.

The conclusion of the matter also means that the suspension which prevented Storm Street from racing, while an enquiry was pending, has been lifted.

The official results for the Derek Cozier Memorial Sprint have been revised as follows: 1st Summer Cactus; 2nd Luca's Gold; 3rd Strategic Choice; 4th Cash It Back; 5th Adios Amigos; 6th Trust 'N Condidence.

And, in an unrelated matter, the TTRA imposed six-week suspensions to apprentice jockey Ronald Ali and exercise rider Kerion Razack, arising out of an altercation between the pair on September 2, 2009.

After considering the evidence, the TTRA concluded that both Ali and Razack were in breach of Rule 69 (2), (3) of the Rules of Racing.

Both riders were declared "warned-off" from September 13 to October 24, 2009 and are disbarred from entering restricted areas, pursuant to Rule 63 (9) of the Rules of Racing.