Suspension for Smith

TRAINER Ben Smith’s spring carnival aspirations are in tatters following his suspension for refusing to give evidence and also giving false evidence to Racing NSW stewards in regard to sample irregularities.

Newcastle-based Smith is the trainer of autumn Group 1 winners In Her Time, who is an Everest contender, and El Dorado Dreaming.

Stewards began an inquiry yesterday after finding unlabelled and/or unregistered and/or unidentifiable substances at Smith’s stables and home and in his vehicle.

The substances have been sent to the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory for analysis.

Smith’s mobile phone and laptop have been confiscated for forensic imaging.

The trainer was charged with refusing to give evidence by not providing the name or names of who supplied him with the products in question.

Smith did not enter a plea to the charge but did plead guilty to giving false evidence on two occasions during yesterday’s stable inspection.

The suspension has been deferred to Tuesday and Smith can’t start any of his horses in the seven-day period.