Reeling from "devastating doping revelations," horse racing faces a "new crisis with suggestions drug-testing protocols were compromised by secret tip-offs," according to Leo Schlink of the HERALD SUN. Text messages indicated charged stablehand Greg Nelligan was told that an Aquanita Racing horse "would not be subjected to pre-race blood testing at the Geelong track." The information is "contained in a text exchange" between a licensed trainer and Nelligan in Sept. '10. The trainer, who has not been charged and is not named, texted Nelligan five hours before Trisara was to start in Race 9: "No test race 9 no 12 2day." Nelligan responded, "No test at all or no late blood?" And the trainer answered, "He say no test blood." The trainer's alleged source is "not named but the information was correct." On-course blood testing is a "key integrity measure" and any moves to sabotage testing protocols is a "hammer blow" to the sport's credibility. Speculation "continues to build that the matter will be acted upon within days rather than weeks as political and industry pressure builds on Racing Victoria" (HERALD SUN, 2/21).
