Banned trainer: I was in the dark
BANNED Innisfail trainer Greg Strickland has revealed he did not believe he was breaking the rules of racing when caught administering medication to three horses on race day.
The veteran Cassowary Coast horseman was late last month banned for two years – following the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission raid on his stable on October 30, 2018 – which is set to expire on October 26 this year.
Strickland, who began training as a teenager and is now in his 60s, did not think he was doing anything wrong when he was administering medication on race day without permission to his three horses Cashed Up Bully, Redwinska and Oakfield Avenger.
Strickland and his family have been through an ordeal since that day in late 2018, investigated by police in regards to animal cruelty. In early 2019, he pleaded guilty in the Innisfail Magistrates Court to using a “prohibited thing” on a licensed animal.
“The main thing that I wish to advise is that the way I administered the substance, which are all legal, namely vitamin C and Nuetradex on the race morning, is the only reason I was charged with this offence, to which I pleaded guilty on advice from my solicitor,” Strickland said.
“There was no evidence of any kind in respect to cruelty to the animal.
“(That was) in view of the fact that all samples returned negative and the fact I pleaded guilty, as I did not know it was illegal to administer treatment by syringe orally over the tongue.
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“However, I did know it was illegal to needle or stomach drench one working day prior to a race.
“I have realised my mistake, have pleaded guilty and fined $2000 and now would like to regain my trainer’s licence.”
Long-time owners of Strickland’s this week said they doubted if any other owners would give the banned trainer a horse when his ban does expire later this year,
Despite that, Strickland, a farrier by trade who has had a trainer’s licence for 45 years, intends to return to training later this year.
“More importantly, I have clients who want to purchase more horses and require my training services,” he said.
“In life, we all make mistakes and spur-of-the-moment decisions, some right and some wrong.
“But that does not make us bad people or criminals, but it is what we do in the long-run that defines us.”
The Pease Park-based trainer was first charged in late October of 2018 and only was delivered his fate by QRIC last month.
“I feel that my case has been mismanaged, causing unnecessary stress for all parties involved,” he said.
According to statistics on Racing.com, Strickland has trained 68 winners throughout his career at a strike-rate of 12 per cent from his last 50 starters, before his ban started.