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Godolphin's Australian trainer John O'Shea told Racing and Sports Thursday the country's medication rules are too confusing, saying a racing administrator was unable to answer a question about a raceday treatment rule. O'Shea is one of a handful of industry participants to speak out in support of trainer Peter Moody, who gave Racing.com an impassioned interview Wednesday after one of his horses was scratched after a mud poultice was mistakenly applied on raceday.
O'Shea told Racing and Sports Racing Australia's Peter McGauran was uncertain about whether a horse could be treated with ice on raceday.
“The person who has implemented the rules, when asked whether you could ice a horse, he was unable to give an emphatic answer,” O'Shea told the site. “They criticize trainers for not knowing the rules and the person who sets the rules and puts the rules out didn't know the rules himself.”
O'Shea also expressed concern about the welfare of the horse under some rules.
“With the new rule you're not allowed to administer fluids in 35-degree heat or 40-degree heat, the only intake a horse can have is water. Have you ever heard of something so preposterous?” He said. “Welfare of the animal in the current climate should be the paramount concern. So if you're compromising the welfare of the animal it's fair to say there are some major problems.”
McGauran defended his position on Sky Sports Radio, saying, “I stress, the rules are in black and white. There has been criticism there isn't sufficient consultation–I can assure you there is a paper trail on each of these draft rules to the industry associations involved.”
Click here to watch Peter Moody's Wednesday Racing.com interview.
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