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Former champion trainer
Charles Leck was today disqualified three years after three of his
horses, ARABIAN STAR, KINGTRAP and JUSTOHELP returned positive tests after
their respective races on July 20, 2007.
This case has taken so long to reach a resolution largely due to the result
of a number of ongoing issues including Police investigations and various
hearings in the Subordinate and High Courts. Leck has filed an appeal and
has been granted a stay of sentence.
Leck was on March 31, 2008 was found guilty to the following charges under MRA Rule of Racing 134(5) in that:
(1) he was the Trainer and person responsible for presenting ARABIAN STAR to
race in Race 4 at the Singapore Turf Club Meeting on Friday, 20 July 2007
following which a urine sample taken from the tenth placegetter, ARABIAN
STAR, was found to contain the presence of metabolites of ACEPROMAZINE, a
prohibited substance under the MRA Rules of Racing.
(2) he was the Trainer and person responsible for presenting KINGTRAP to
race in Race 5 at the Singapore Turf Club Meeting on Friday, 20 July 2007
following which a urine sample taken from the eleventh placegetter, KINGTRAP,
was found to contain the presence of metabolites of ACEPROMAZINE, a
prohibited substance under the MRA Rules of Racing.
(3) he was the Trainer and person responsible for presenting JUSTOHELP to
race in Race 7 at the Singapore Turf Club Meeting on Friday, 20 July 2007
following which a urine sample taken from the eleventh placegetter,
JUSTOHELP, was found to contain the presence of metabolites of ACEPROMAZINE,
a prohibited substance under the MRA Rules of Racing.
In terms of Rule 134(10), ARABIAN STAR, KINGTRAP and JUSTOHELP were
disqualified from their respective races and the results amended
accordingly.
After taking submissions from Leck and following advice in regards to police
investigations, the Stipendiary Stewards adjourned to consider the penalty
to be imposed on Leck.
On April 8, 2008, a former syce of Leck was charged with three counts of
mischief in the Subordinate Court in that he, sometime in July 2007
committed acts of mischief by using a syringe to inject a drug into the
three horses. He pleaded guilty to the charges and the matter was adjourned
until April 15, 2008.
Further hearings on the case were conducted in the Subordinate Court on
April 15, April 29, May 6, May 20, May 27 anf May 30 last year. The Deputy
Public Prosecutor subsequently advised that an appeal had been lodged with
the High Court on July 11, 2008 against a ruling of the Subordinate Court to
reject an application for a dismissal not amounting to an acquittal from the
Deputy Public Prosecutor with regard to the syce.
Hearings for this appeal were heard in the High Court on September 12,
September 26 and October 17, 2008.
A judgement was handed down in the High Court on July 24, In his judgement
the honorourable judge allowed the appeal and granted an application for a
dismissal not amounting to an acquittal.
Today, Stipendiary Stewards considered further submissions from Leck,
after considering all the factors in regard to penalty Leck was disqualified
for a period of three years on each charge. These penalties are to be served
concurrently.  |
