The powerful sedative allegedly used to nobble two

The powerful sedative allegedly used to nobble two race horses in a betting scam has only been detected on one other occasion in years of Jockey Club
testing, a jury heard today (Wed.

).

Nearly 50,000 horses were tested for drugs after racing at meetings around the country between 1992 and July 1998.

An animal tested positive for ACP in 1994 and the rarely used drug was not detected again until it was discovered two horses at the centre of an alleged
conspiracy to defraud, Avanti Express and Lively Knight, were doped with acetylpromazine in March
1997.

At London’s Southwark Crown Court five men deny plotting to interfere with the fair running of horses during a month long conspiracy.

Peter Webbon, the Jockey Club’s chief veterinary advisor, told the court how ACP depressed an animal’s central nervous system.

He said when prescribing a dose for a horse, a vet would need to know the animal’s weight.

‘If a more than usual dose is given, there is no noticeable change in the animal’s appearance, but the effect of the drug persists longer,’ he said.

He said although the Jockey Club ‘prohibited’ the use of ACP in animals actually racing, it was used in stables to calm excitable horses for
transportation or in new surroundings, and during dentistry, shoeing, and the treatment of minor injuries.

Mr Webbon ran through the statistics of drug testing by the organisation from 1992 to July 1998.

He agreed ACP was detected in only three of the 50,000
horses tested.

Glen Gill, 34, of Highlands Road, Fareham, Hants, and formerly of Ambler Rise, Sheffield, Yorks; Jason Moore, 30, of Sands Way, Woodford Green, Essex; Ray
Butler, 52, of Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, nw London; Adam Hodgson, 38, of Laurel Avenue,
Langley, Slough, Berks; and John Matthews, 36, of Post Office Lane, Slough, deny conspiracy to defraud between March 1 and April 1, 1997.

The charge alleges they ‘conspired together and with others to defraud such bookmakers and persons who might be caused loss by the interference with the
fair running of horses in horse races by the administration of a performance inhibiting drug to a horse running in the said horse races.

‘

The case centres on the running of two highly fancied horses – Avanti Express at Exeter on March 7, 1997, and Lively Knight at Plumpton on March 29, that
year.

The animals later failed dope tests after a poor showing in races they were expected to win.

The jury has heard how syringes – specially ‘crimped’ to stop leakage – and needles, some bearing traces of ACP were discovered at Butler’s home after his
arrest in January 1998.

In interview, Butler said they were left by a friend from Eire who used the drug to keep his greyhounds quiet when bringing them over from Ireland.

Asked about the use of ACP with racing dogs, Mr Webbon the ‘standard clinical use’ would be as a pre-anaesthetic.

‘Its most common use in dogs would be as a sedative.

It would be given to dogs frightened of thunderstorms or fireworks, or as a travel pill to overcome
motion sickness.

‘

He added: ‘I don’t think it is used extensively.

Certainly in my conversations with trainers, I was never aware they used it regularly.

‘

But asked how the drug usually would be administered to a greyhound, Mr Webbon replied: ‘By tablet.

‘

He said he had never seen syringes crimped in such a way before – but said in any case a vet would not carry around full syringes.

Avanti Express was trained at Charles Egerton’s Heads Farm Stables, in Chaddlesworth, Berks.

The gelding had never been treated with ACP, and the drug was last used at the yard prior to the Exeter race in the summer of 1995.

Josh Gifford trained Lively Knight at his Downs Stables, in Findon, West Sussex.

The horse never been treated with ACP.

The vets used by the trainer had treated another animal with the drug in October 1996 and again in February 1997 – when a horse was twice injected.

Usually when ASP was used in the past, it was administered orally to horses – either tablets being ground into feed, or a paste made into a liquid and
poured into a animal’s mouth.

Ron James, who retired as head lad at the stables in 1998 after 18 years, said in a statement: ‘Lively Knight would be reluctant to take strange food, and
unlikely to take it from a stranger.

‘

The trial continues.

ends