John Gosden fined after yard worker who took ketamine three days a week contaminated horses including ‘the new Enable'

The Sun

6 days ago

TRAINER John Gosden has been fined after a yard worker who took ketamine three days a week made one of his horses - who punters dubbed 'the new Enable' - fail a drugs test following her debut win.
Iconic handler Gosden and his son Thady have been fined £3,000 by the BHA after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance.
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Zilfee, a half-sister to the awesome Arc, King George, Oaks and Breeders' Cup Turf-winning Enable, was first past the post on debut at Kempton in June last year.
But after testing positive for the powerful hallucinogenic, the Juddmonte-owned filly's debut victory has been sensationally scrubbed from the record books and her prize money of almost £4,000 must be returned.
A BHA Disciplinary Panel also found another Gosden-trained horse, Morrophore, had tested positive for ketamine.
The findings came about after a yard worker - Person A - said they used the drug three times a week 'recreationally'.
The worker had direct care for Morrophore, who failed a test after finishing sixth at Yarmouth last July.
But another yard worker who looked after Zilfee claimed that horse tested positive for ketamine after they used Person A's kitbag on the day in question.
An investigation by the BHA summarised in the fast-track hearing read: "Person A was employed by the Gosdens from October 2023 to August 2024.
Background to the case
The admitted breaches of the Rules of Racing in respect of Rule (K)2.2 are in respect of the presence of Ketamine (and its metabolites), a Prohibited Substance, in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse ZILFEE (GB) after being placed first in the Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies Stakes (GBB Race) at Kempton Racecourse on 12 June 2024 and in a post-race urine sample taken from the horse MORROPHORE (FR) after racing at Yarmouth Racecourse on 10 July 2024.
An out-of-competition sample was taken from ZILFEE (GB) on 10 July 2024.
The hair sample demonstrated likely multiple low-level exposures to Ketamine over many months.
An out-of-competition sample was taken from MORROPHORE (FR) on 6 August 2024.
The hair and urine samples demonstrated prolonged exposure to Ketamine.
Rule (K)2.2 states that Prior to leaving the Racecourse, no Category B Prohibited Substance is present in their horse's body on a day on which it is engaged to run in a Race.
Pursuant to the Prohibited List Code, Ketamine is a Category B Prohibited Substance, prohibited on race day.
"She admitted recreational ketamine use approximately three times per week whilst not at work.
"Person A had direct care for and rode MORROPHORE (FR).
"Person A took MORROPHORE (FR) to Great Yarmouth on 10 July 2024.
"Person A did not have direct care of ZILFEE (GB) but the horse's groom had used Person A's kit bag at the racecourse on 12 June 2024.
"Person A denied any direct administration of ketamine and believed that there was cross contamination as a result of the fact that she not always washing her hands before coming to work.
"She admitted that she had been taken through the induction procedure.
"This included the Substance Misuse Policy which emphasised the need to avoid cross contamination."
The BHA conducted an inspection of the famed Gosden Clarehaven yard in July and August 2024.
Hair samples, swabs and bedding samples were taken from four further horses and all hair samples contained ketamine.
The father-son duo were interviewed in January this year having already brought random drug and alcohol testing of staff into force.
In the Disciplinary Panel 'assessment of penalty' report, it was deemed 'neither John nor Thady had knowledge of the administration and the yard had a number of reasonable and targeted precautions'.
In a statement, the Gosdens said: "We remain committed to the highest standards of care and integrity in our operations and are taking every possible step to avoid any recurrence."
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