HALL-OF-FAME TRAINER RETURNS TO THE WINNERS’ FOLD

AN inquiry into a positive swab to arsenic taken from the Marc Butler-trained pacer Giuliani in September last year has resulted in no action being taken against the trainer.

Butler had to plead guilty to presenting a horse to the races that was not free of a prohibited substance but the circumstances around the positive swab led to his exoneration.

The swab was taken after Giuliani contested a harness race in Launceston on September 10 last year in which the horse finished fourth.

Butler presented evidence that his horse had ingested arsenic as a result of chewing on treated pine posts.

The posts on his property contained copper chrome arsenate, part of which is arsenic.

Several Australian trainers were placed in similar situations last year and most were exonerated.

In Butler’s case, stewards were mindful of a report published by Melbourne University that found ingestion of CCA timber could lead to elevated arsenic levels in urine.

Photographic evidence tendered by stewards of Butler’s stabling yards confirmed significant fresh damage to the wood consistent with chewing.

This occurred prior to the publication of the industry notice advising of the risks associated with CCA-treated timber.