Trainer Suzi Best Has Winners Disqualified

Trainer Suzi Best Has Winners Disqualified

Trainer Suzi Best has some her past winners disqualified, after they tested positive for an illegal shampoo ingredient.

Outrath and Ertidaad, both winners on the all-weather at Kempton Park in February of last year, provided post-race samples featuring a substance known as 'minoxidil', an ingredient in the hair regrowth shampoo Regaine.

Minoxidil is a type of drug used generally to lower blood pressure in humans. 

There are no veterinary formulations containing minoxidil that are licensed for animals in the UK, with the substance a part of the list of banned ingredients to be used on racehorses, due to its pharmacological effects.

Suzi, who was not present at the hearing and therefore represented by her assistant Tom, accepted the charges.

(Credit: Racing Post) In her statement that she provided, she said: "As the horses were under my care and control, I take full responsibility even though I had no reason to believe it could result in a positive.

"My assistant has been using the product for many years and neither of us had the slightest idea this could happen.

"As the trainer, I take full responsibility for the unfortunate circumstances that led to the positives and am utterly devastated," she said.

Due to Suzi's and Tom's assistance in the case, the punishment is expected to just be a fine for the yard, and not a ban.