The Co Westmeath-based trainer John Bowles was yesterday fined £1,000 by the Turf Club after a prohibited substance was found in two of his horses, Altregan Boy and Back To Bavaria. The prohibited substance Benzolyecgonine was found in both horses after they won in May.
Altregan Boy won a handicap hurdle at Limerick in May 4th and Back To Bavaria won a flat handicap at Killarney on May 11th. The Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee heard evidence from Bowles yesterday. On the basis of that and Bowles's admission of the finding of the substance, the committee fined the trainer £500 in respect of each horse and advised Bowles as to his responsibilities under Rule 148.
They did, however, accept that there was no evidence that either the trainer or the owners personally administered the prohibited substance.
Both horses have been disqualified from the races involved.
Venetia Williams' fine season continued at Folkestone today as she reached 33 for the campaign - just 12 behind her total for 1997/8. The trainer's Careysville made all the running to take the William Hill Handicap Chase.
