Subject: POSITIVE FINDING OF DICLOFENAC RETURNED BY HORSE SNOWFLAKES
September 11, 2024


The First Instance Tribunal, Delegatees of the Jamaica Racing Commission, on the 2nd September 2024 concluded an investigation under Section 25 of the Jamaica Racing Commission Act, into a report by the Racing Chemist that urine samples taken from the horse, SNOWFLAKES, following the running of the second race on Saturday, 8th July, 2023, indicated the presence of DICLOFENAC, which is in breach of Rule 257 under the Rules of Racing. The split (B) sample was subsequently analyzed at the University of the West Indies Mona Analytical Chemistry Lab (UWIMAC), where the presence of DICLOFENAC was confirmed to be in the sample taken from the horse in question. After thoroughly considering the evidence presented, the Tribunal: • Accepted the finding of the Racing Chemist, that the urine sample taken from the horse on Saturday, 8th July, 2023, contained the drug DICLOFENAC (Class 4 prohibited substance). • Ruled that Trainer Colin Ferguson was negligent and was responsible for the positive finding returned by horse SNOWFLAKES. • Imposed a fine in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) on Trainer Colin Ferguson, to be paid no later than sixty (60) days after said ruling. • Disqualified SNOWFLAKES from the race, pursuant to Rule 207 of the Racing Rules 1977. Mr Garth McBean K.C., the Commission’s Legal Adviser, marshalled the evidence on behalf of the Commission.