Race-day treatment inquiry supported

TRAINERS yesterday backed investigations into allegations of race-day treatment that have rocked Victorian racing.

Australian Trainers Association president Robbie Griffiths said the timing of the latest investigation — when more eyes than usual were on it — wasn’t a great look for the industry.

But as the third day of the Flemington carnival continued yesterday, Griffiths said it was important not everyone was tarred with the same brush.

“It all comes as a little bit of a shock to us all,” said Griffiths, who had four runners at Flemington yesterday.

“From an industry point of view, it’s a terrible time.

“We don’t want our brand knocked around.

“On the flip side of it all, every trainer, even those who might be being questioned at the moment, wants a level playing field.

“Racing, like any other sport, spends a lot of money on integrity.

“All the horses here today are tested pre-race and postrace. All the videos of how horses have been ridden, their tactics in other races — it all gets looked at.

“The industry spends a lot of money to make sure it is a level playing field and I think it’s fair to say it is.

“If there is an isolated case of something, it literally is an isolated case compared to the volume of runners every day around Australia.”

Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey confirmed the investigation — which began after Lovani, trained by Robert Smerdon, was scratched from the final race at Flemington on October 7 after suspected raceday treatment — was nearing completion.

But Racing Victoria also has no timetable on the possible laying of charges after the investigation broadened in the weeks since that meeting.

Bailey said “innuendo” was not something he could control.

Caulfield trainer Smerdon, one of seven trainers believed to have been interviewed by stewards, was not at Flemington yesterday to attend to his runner in the final race, Divine Messenger.