Frank Robinson fined

INQUIRY – TRAINER MR L F ROBINSON

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (the NHA) confirms that at an Inquiry held at its offices in Durban on 12 March 2025, Trainer Mr L F Robinson was charged with contraventions of the following Rules:

Charge 1 – Rule 73.2.3 In that he was the Trainer and the person responsible for OXFORD ROAD, which ran in (unplaced) the 4th Race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse on 15 September 2024.  A pre-race blood specimen which was taken from this horse disclosed, upon analysis, the presence of Flunixin which is a prohibited substance in terms of the Rules of the NHA.

Charge 2 – Rule 10.5.14  In that Trainer Robinson failed to accurately record the treatment of Flunixin to OXFORD ROAD in a Veterinary Treatment Register.   Mr Robinson pleaded not guilty to the charges but was found guilty on both charges. The Inquiry Board, in coming to suitable penalties, took into consideration all mitigating and aggravating factors and imposed a fine of R23 000 in relation to charge 1 and R2 500 in relation to charge 2.

Furthermore, in terms of Rule 72.3.2, OXFORD ROADis disqualified from the said race.


Enquiries

Arnold Hyde

Racing Control Executive

This is a strange one !

Since when did they start testing unplaced horses? 

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and I would say he is telling the truth. 

.....see that Frank responded in the SP and alleges that NHRA protocol was not followed in that he was not informed that procedural testing was to take place and his ratification thereof should have been required so that he could at least observe the testing procedure/ drawing of samples.....furthermore he claims that he has never used nor had the substance in his possession....so who can attest/prove that even the right horse on course was tested without the trainer being present and confirming acknowledgment thereof.....huh

Dazza post=895244 userid=17249This is a strange one !

Since when did they start testing unplaced horses? 

They did not know that the horse would  run unplaced nor did Frank and the entire racing public either as none were informed that blood was taken before the race and no one was informed....using needles without supervision nor notification sounds rather ominous and may have contributed to the a poor performance.....hope Frank gets a switched on legal eagle to give Moodley & Co another shellacking......  

Apologies Muhtiman I didn't read that it was a pre-race specimen ! 🫣

Haven't read the SP article but when I saw this post the 1st thing I thought was NHA incompetence! I will stick with my initial opinion and say Frank is innocent and hope he gets justice. 

Post my retirement from training I proffered my services to the trainers as their representative regarding these types of matters.I believe the trainers have a huge problem with communication as they are essentially private contractors. The big racing nations have qualified representatives for these type of matters. Unfortunately licensed trainers are hamstrung by the very nature of their license. I fought the establishment many times and won most. The cost to me was enormous but satisfaction in the outcome was more than money can buy.
I feel sorry for Frank as he will encounter all types of unusual obstacles.  Facts as I see them seem very unfair on him,his owners and especially the horse.

.....but surely the horse was likely under supervision of a stable groom on course who should have communicated to his boss that the horse had been interfered with....something not adding up....looking like another incompetant NHRA blunder and who knows whose horse got the needle....

Bump.....is Frank being targeted because he responded pubically to these charges.....and what happened to this matter....huh

 Frank's response in the SP

What aggravated me was I was not informed that a test was done on the horse .The first I heard was they arrived at my yard to say this horse is positive. When they test a winner you are given a ticket to sign so you can watch the process.when they come to your yard for pre race testing they open everything in front of you and you sign 3 dockets. Why now they just claim to have tested the horse without any signatures of mine pre race and the horse runs last and they say he’s positive on flunixin. A drug I have never used ever since I started training. Never !! I will be going to high court I will never accept this.

.......is Frank now being pressured by Arnold Hyde for this post.....

 

What is this industry coming to ?