THE Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board has made the decision to warn off five Queensland greyhound trainers for life, while one case was adjourned and another was referred back to the stewards for further investigation.

Chairman Kevin Dixon advised the board had made the following decisions after considering three written submissions and one verbal submission.

Ms Debra Arnold made a written submission that was considered by the Board. After consideration of the evidence and the written submission, it is the Board’s decision that Ms Arnold failed to show cause as to why she should not be warned off.  The Board has therefore decided to warn off Ms Arnold.

• Mr James Harding did not make a submission in response to the show cause notice issued to him. After consideration of the evidence, it is the Board’s decision that Mr Harding failed to show cause as to why he should not be warned off. The Board has therefore decided to warn off Mr Harding.

• Mr Reg Kay made a written submission that was considered by the Board. After consideration of the evidence and the written submission, it is the Board’s decision that Mr Kay failed to show cause as to why he should not be warned off.  The Board has therefore decided to warn off Mr Kay.

• Mr Tony McCabe did not make a submission in response to the show cause notice issued to him. After consideration of the evidence, it is the Board’s decision that Mr McCabe failed to show cause as to why he should not be warned off. The Board has therefore decided to warn off Mr McCabe.

• Mr Tom Noble did not provide a submission in response to the show cause issued to him. After consideration of the evidence, it is the Board’s decision that Mr Noble failed to show cause as to why he should not be warned off. The Board has therefore decided to warn off Mr Noble.

• Mr Greg Stella made a verbal submission to the Board in response to the show cause notice issued to him. After consideration of the evidence and the verbal submission, the board has referred the matter back to the stewards to undertake a stewards’ inquiry. He will remain suspended pending the stewards investigation and his dogs remain suspended.

• Mr Michael Chapman made a written submission that was considered by the Board. However the board became aware of further evidence that may be relevant to the consideration of Mr Chapman’s submission and decided to adjourn the matter to a later date.

The decisions mean the five warned-off trainers will not be permitted to own, train or prepare a registered racing animal or attend Queensland greyhound racecourses.

Chairman Kevin Dixon said after carefully considering the submissions and evidence and the seriousness of the allegations, the decision had been taken to warn off the five trainers.

“As a board we determined the actions of these individuals proved they should not be considered fit and proper persons to continue to be involved in the greyhound industry,” Mr Dixon said.

“The conduct we saw from these people in the evidence provided to us is not only against the rules of greyhound racing, it is deplorable by its very nature.

“There is no place for anyone who engages in this type of conduct in the industry.”

He said the greyhounds owned by these trainers are currently unable to compete and will continue to be cared for by Racing Queensland.

It comes as Racing Queensland continues to implement a series of stringent measures, including the banning of all organic matter, including blood, being used in training, to eradicate the practice from the industry.

“Racing Queensland has a zero-tolerance on animal cruelty and we remain firmly committed to ensuring anyone who engages in this type of behavior is no longer part of the industry,” Mr Dixon said.

“The rule bans the use of any organic matter on a lure including blood, ensuring no animals are harmed for the purpose of training a greyhound.

“We have teams of stewards on the ground inspecting kennels for evidence of animal cruelty across the state and recording the data of dogs domiciled at each property.”

As part of the new measures, Racing Queensland has imposed a welfare and integrity levy on greyhound prizemoney, breeding schemes and subsidy schemes, which will raise $1.6 million annually.

”The greyhound industry has been challenged and it is up to the controlling body and the participants to ensure animal cruelty is eradicated from the industry.”