SAMUEL: VET GAVE TREAT ON RACETRACK, PANEL HEARS

A greyhound had to be pulled from a race after a trackside vet kicked a custard cream into its kennel, a hearing was told today (Mon).

Gary Samuel dropped the biscuit from his pocket as he reached for a handkerchief before booting it into the dog’s enclosure, it was said.

His actions threatened the ‘integrity of the sport’ and the livelihood of the animal’s trainer, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons heard.

The vet later claimed he had not retrieved the unauthorised foreign object because his religion forbids him from picking things up from the floor.

Samuel was working at the Nottingham Greyhound Stadium on October 10, 2009, when the incident took place, said Nicole Curtis, for the College.

‘On that day a greyhound named Strangely Black was due to race in the 9.22pm 500-metre flat event,’ she said.

‘When the dogs are about to race they are placed in an a locked paddock area and access is restricted. Only those licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain may enter.’

Trainer Paula Timmins left the animal at 5.30pm, and returned to it around 15 minutes before the race, when she noticed the crushed custard cream on the floor, the panel was told.

‘She knew greyhounds are not allowed to feed at this stage, so she immediately went to the paddock steward to report it,’ said Mrs Curtis.

‘The rules are extremely strict about not allowing unauthorised access once the dogs are ready to race and not permitting any good in order to ensure the integrity of the sport and maintain the confidence of the public who may be betting on the race.

‘There may be serious consequences – including the loss of livelihood – for her if there was any suggestion she had broken the rules by giving the dog unauthorised food.’

Strangely Black was pulled from that evening’s race, meaning her owner lost out on the chance of possible ‘win money’, the panel was told.

But Mrs Timmins, a full-time greyhound trainer for the last 25 years, did not have to hand back the appearance fee or have the animal ‘re-tried’ because she had withdrawn it voluntarily.

Stadium CCTV was viewed and showed Samuel dropping the biscuit before kicking it into the kennel, it is alleged.

When confronted about the matter by manager David Baldwin he is said to have replied: ‘Yes, that’s right. I was eating custard creams yesterday.’

In correspondence with the RCVS, he added: ‘Objects on the floor of the kennel are very common.

‘For religious reasons I don’t pick unknown stuff off the ground.’

Mrs Timmins told the panel: ‘If the CCTV footage had not shown Mr Samuel there could have been an inquiry [into my conduct].

‘I did not know what action might have been taken as a result, but it could have resulted in a fine or even the loss of my licence.

‘I would have had to have proved that I wasn’t responsible.’

Samuel was investigated by the GBGB, after which he was fined £2,500 and disqualified indefinitely from working at races.

The vet, who is black, did not attend that disciplinary hearing because he had received racist abuse from some GBGB members in the past, the RCVS panel was told.

Samuel denies causing, allowing or failing to prevent the biscuit from entering the dog’s paddock when he knew, or ought to have known, that his actions were in breach of GBGB rules.

There is no suggestion the biscuit contained any banned substances.

If found guilty of misconduct he could be struck off the veterinary register.

The hearing continues.

ends