A racehorse fed carrots by his owner on the morning of a race was disqualified for a bizarre reason.
Presenting Pete lost his win after he tested positive for minoxidil, a drug used to lower blood pressure and treat hair loss. Its presence was discovered in a post-race sample taken at Southwell Racecourse on June 20.
The result was brought to the attention of the British Horseracing Authority, who considered the case as a disciplinary matter. Running for trainer John Mackie for the first time, Presenting Pete prevailed by a length-and-three-quarters in a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle.
In the hours before he was sent on the 90-mile round trip to the racecourse from his Derbyshire stable, the new recruit was visited by his owner.
He gave the gelding some attention and treats, but in doing so, somehow transferred a scalp treatment he had been using onto the horse. BHA investigators realised it was an accident and cautioned Mackie, who has been training since the eighties.
But after the breach of racing's rule (K)2.2, Presenting Pete had to be disqualified from winning the 2m4½f contest, which had a first prize of £4,683.
A statement from the BHA disciplinary panel said: "The (disciplinary panel) chairman noted that minoxidil was a drug used to lower blood pressure and used topically in the treatment of alopecia.
"It has no obvious use for horses and it was confirmed that Presenting Pete’s owner did use a preparation containing minoxidil and had fed the horse carrots on the day of the race.
"He also noted that there were reasonable precautions in place at the yard."
Presenting Pete won on his next appearance at Southwell, taking a race which had the same amount of prize money as the one he subsequently lost.
Although the son of Presenting has started favourite for his last three starts, he has not been able to add to his triumph at the Nottinghamshire circuit.
