Smith case all set to go before stewards

THE stewards inquiry into the latest cobalt positive samples in Queensland thoroughbred racing is expected to be held in Toowoomba on Thursday.

Toowoomba trainer Rochelle Smith will face stewards after her horse Vimzig returned a cobalt-positive sample when it won at the Darling Down track on May 16.

Stablemate Grey Countess also returned a reading above the cobalt threshold when she finished second in a race at the Gold Coast on May 30.

Meanwhile, a stewards inquiry involving Brisbane jockey Ric McMahon is also set to be held on Tuesday after McMahon returned an irregularity to a banned substance recently. The banned substance has been reported as methamphetamines.

The annual awards ceremonies for all three codes of Queensland racing have been postponed and may not even go ahead at all.

Racing Queensland released a statement yesterday declaring the annual awards nights, which celebrate the achievements of Queenslanders in the racing industry, have been postponed for now.

“As Racing Queensland enters a period of consultation with the racing industry and participants, it has been determined that the racing codes (thoroughbred, harness and greyhound) awards ceremonies will be postponed,” the statement read.

“The industry consultation is part of Racing Queensland’s process for establishing a sustainable future for racing and the awards will be considered during the consultation process (in the next few months).

“A decision on this season’s ceremonies will be made at a later date.”

The annual Queensland awards night for greyhound racing was originally cancelled by the former RQ board after the live-baiting scandal.

The decision to postpone all three awards nights, which are normally held in September and October, comes after RQ announced last week that it faced a $28 million loss this financial year.