Trainer Peter Moody fined for positive swab

Leading horse trainer Peter Moody received a $5,000 fine from the Victorian Racing Tribunal after he pleaded guilty to a charge concerning prohibited substances found in his sprinter, Brereton. The fine came after a positive pre-race drug test conducted before a race at Flemington on May 13, 2023.

VRT Chairman Judge John Bowman declared, “In all the circumstances, bearing in mind your record is not entirely unblemished, we fix a penalty of being a fine of $5,000.” He added that Brereton would be disqualified from the May 13 race, affecting its finishing standings.

Moody’s representative, Peter Jurkovsky, who revealed that Moody oversees as many as 260 horses, stated, “Mr. Moody is seeking to publicly endorse the voracity of the testing regime and uphold the confidence and integrity of Racing Victoria.” He also mentioned that Moody took full responsibility for the finding and has implemented new measures to mitigate the possibility of future infractions.

Marwan El-Asmar, representing the stewards, clarified their position, stating, “The penalty being sought by the stewards is a fine in the amount of $5,000.” This announcement indicated that a suspension or disqualification was not being considered, focusing solely on a monetary penalty.