Hopes Banned For Cobalt Administration

Co-trainers Lee and Shannon Hope have been banned three and five years, respectively, by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after being found guilty of administering cobalt to three horses in their care. The case of the father-son training team is the first of four cases involving cobalt to be heard in the state of Victoria, with hearings for high-profile trainers Peter Moody, Mark Kavanagh and Danny O’Brien still to come.

The Hopes had said the cobalt positives occurred naturally through their feed, supplement and medical regime, but they changed their plea last month to guilty for administering, or causing to be administered, a prohibited substance. Shannon Hope received a harsher penalty because, since he was in charge of the feeding and medication program, he was determined to be “more culpable” of the two, according to Racing.com.

“I’ve been advised not to say anything,” Lee Hope told Racing.com. “We’ll have to wait and see [on an appeal].”

The Hopes trained the winners of seven group races this year, and won the G1 Vinery Stud S. and G2 Stocks S. with Fenway (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

The hearings for O’Brien and Kavanagh are to begin Nov. 30, and Moody’s Dec. 14.