Owners of horses with high cobalt levels previously trained by Darren Smith say they have been penalised in the months it has taken for a Racing NSW inquiry.
Several owners pleaded their cases at Tuesday’s inquiry, the first hearing since Smith was charged with cobalt offences.
Racing NSW has refused all nominations from Smith since May when investigations began into high levels of cobalt in horses in his care.
During that time, the horses have raced for other trainers with no determination over the previous placings.
Ralph Portaro, a part-owner of Testarhythm, winner of the Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May, said the gelding had been carrying extra weight because of his stakes win.
“It has been ten months and we have had no prize money but he hasn’t been disqualified,” Portaro said.
“Testarhythm has had to carry seven ratings points in that time.
“It is depriving him of the chance to win and has cost us.”
High-profile owners Peter Horwitz and Dean Watt also made submissions criticising Racing NSW which did not have a threshold limit in place at the time.
Racing Victoria introduced a cobalt threshold of 200 nanograms per litre of urine in April, the same limit used by Harness Racing NSW.
The 62 charges against Smith come under the rule that prohibits the use of any substance which may affect a horse’s blood profile by increasing red cells.
Counsel for Smith, Paul O’Sullivan, has argued the absence of a threshold means there cannot be a case to answer.