Steve Savicki
12-20-2006, 10:25 AM
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OWNER-trainer Nicole Boyd yesterday was disqualified for three years for using a cattle prod on a horse during a trackwork gallop.
The Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board imposed the penalty after Boyd admitted she bought a cattle prod for $110 as a "last resort" to get her mare Kingston Shine to produce its best.
Board chairman Judge Russell Lewis described Boyd's action as "premeditated" as she had been prepared to use "a jack or jigger" twice on the horse.
Judge Lewis said it was "a sad state of affairs" when a trainer, in a bid to entice a horse to perform better, reverted to inflicting pain on a horse via an electrical shock.
"Use of these devices, apart from their unsavoury aspect, should be seen for what it is, just another form of cheating," he said.
"Use of such devices tarnish the image of racing and any reasonable member of the community would be affronted by the revelation that an animal would be subjected to pain by an electrical shock."
Racing Victoria Limited legal adviser Brett Clothier asked the board to disqualify Boyd for five years.
Clothier said Boyd's actions were tantamount to cheating by gaining an unfair advantage over other trainers and there had been a high degree of premeditation involved.
He also said Boyd was prepared to put personal gain ahead of the welfare of the horse.
During a dramatic board hearing jockey Holly McKechnie pleaded guilty to all four charges brought against her following an exhaustive probe.
RVL investigators undertook a surveillance operation at Horsham trackwork in late October and on November 14.
McKechnie broke down and was comforted by friends as she pleaded to the charges.
She was charged with being in possession of an electrical device that is capable of affecting the performance of a horse in a race or a training gallop.
She was further charged with using an electrical device on Drink Up Mason, trained by Paul Preusker, at Horsham track work on November 14.
McKechnie was also charged with using a cattle prod on Kingston Shine at Horsham on October 31 and using an electrical device on various horses trained by Preusker over a two-month period.
The board adjourned McKechnie's case until January 15, after Preusker defends the charges brought against him.
Boyd was disqualified for 18 months for being in possession of an electrical device that was capable of affecting the performance of a horse in a race or training gallop.
The 27-year-old, who has three horses in work at Wonwondah, 20km south of Horsham in north-west Victoria, was disqualified for three years for using the cattle prod on her horse Kingston Shine at Horsham on November 3 during a track gallop.
She received a further three years disqualification for being a party to McKechnie using the cattle prod on Kingston Shine at Horsham on October 31.
All penalties are to be served concurrently.
Boyd, who pleaded guilty to all three charges, declined to comment outside the hearing.
When asked during the hearing by Judge Lewis of her attitude to an electrical shock being given to an animal, Boyd replied: "It's cruel."
Pressed by Lewis if she accepted that, Boyd acknowledged: "Yes, I do."
Boyd offered no excuse for her behaviour.
"I know it was the wrong thing to do," she said.
<center>Don't you know that hurting your players only hinders their performance?</center>
OWNER-trainer Nicole Boyd yesterday was disqualified for three years for using a cattle prod on a horse during a trackwork gallop.
The Victoria Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board imposed the penalty after Boyd admitted she bought a cattle prod for $110 as a "last resort" to get her mare Kingston Shine to produce its best.
Board chairman Judge Russell Lewis described Boyd's action as "premeditated" as she had been prepared to use "a jack or jigger" twice on the horse.
Judge Lewis said it was "a sad state of affairs" when a trainer, in a bid to entice a horse to perform better, reverted to inflicting pain on a horse via an electrical shock.
"Use of these devices, apart from their unsavoury aspect, should be seen for what it is, just another form of cheating," he said.
"Use of such devices tarnish the image of racing and any reasonable member of the community would be affronted by the revelation that an animal would be subjected to pain by an electrical shock."
Racing Victoria Limited legal adviser Brett Clothier asked the board to disqualify Boyd for five years.
Clothier said Boyd's actions were tantamount to cheating by gaining an unfair advantage over other trainers and there had been a high degree of premeditation involved.
He also said Boyd was prepared to put personal gain ahead of the welfare of the horse.
During a dramatic board hearing jockey Holly McKechnie pleaded guilty to all four charges brought against her following an exhaustive probe.
RVL investigators undertook a surveillance operation at Horsham trackwork in late October and on November 14.
McKechnie broke down and was comforted by friends as she pleaded to the charges.
She was charged with being in possession of an electrical device that is capable of affecting the performance of a horse in a race or a training gallop.
She was further charged with using an electrical device on Drink Up Mason, trained by Paul Preusker, at Horsham track work on November 14.
McKechnie was also charged with using a cattle prod on Kingston Shine at Horsham on October 31 and using an electrical device on various horses trained by Preusker over a two-month period.
The board adjourned McKechnie's case until January 15, after Preusker defends the charges brought against him.
Boyd was disqualified for 18 months for being in possession of an electrical device that was capable of affecting the performance of a horse in a race or training gallop.
The 27-year-old, who has three horses in work at Wonwondah, 20km south of Horsham in north-west Victoria, was disqualified for three years for using the cattle prod on her horse Kingston Shine at Horsham on November 3 during a track gallop.
She received a further three years disqualification for being a party to McKechnie using the cattle prod on Kingston Shine at Horsham on October 31.
All penalties are to be served concurrently.
Boyd, who pleaded guilty to all three charges, declined to comment outside the hearing.
When asked during the hearing by Judge Lewis of her attitude to an electrical shock being given to an animal, Boyd replied: "It's cruel."
Pressed by Lewis if she accepted that, Boyd acknowledged: "Yes, I do."
Boyd offered no excuse for her behaviour.
"I know it was the wrong thing to do," she said.
<center>Don't you know that hurting your players only hinders their performance?</center>