Stablehands shampoo costs trainer hefty fine

A stablehands hair regrowth shampoo has cost NSW trainer Gary Portelli a hefty fine.

A stablehand that works for trainer Gary Portelli has cost their employee a fine of $3,000 after their hair regrowth shampoo which contained Minoxidil found it’s way into a horses urine.

Racing NSW stewards have issued Gary Portelli a fine of $3,000 and his horse be disqualified from the race after a post-race urine sample taken from Lord Zoulander at Kembla Grange returned a positive to Minoxidil.

The following matters were taken into evidence and considered during the inquiry:

1. Minoxidil is a vasodilator, present in a human medicine registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and also commonly available and present as the active ingredient of medicated hair regrowth shampoos.
2. There are no registered veterinary pharmaceuticals that contain Minoxidil.
3. It was established that a stablehand employed by Mr. Portelli utilised such a medicated shampoo.
4. The estimated levels of Minoxidil detected by ARFL were considered low and most likely to be consistent with contamination.

Penalty
In assessing penalty Stewards considered the following matters

1. Mr Portelli’s record in relation to this rule
2. Guilty plea
3. Relevant circumstances of the matter

Mr Portelli was fined $3000 and advised of his appeal rights.