Subject: POSITIVE FINDING OF NIKETHAMIDE AND BUPIVACAINE RETURNED BY HORSE LIGHTING MCQUEEN
June 24, 2024


The First Instance Tribunal, Delegatees of the Jamaica Racing Commission, on the 24th June, 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, LIGHTNING MCQUEEN, following the running of the first race on Saturday, 17th OCTOBER 2022, indicated the presence of NIKETHAMIDE and BUPIVACAINE, 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 NIKETHAMIDE & BUPIVACAINE was confirmed to be in the sample taken from the horse. After thoroughly considering the evidence presented, the Tribunal: • Accepted the finding of the Racing Chemist, that the urine samples taken from the horse on 17th of October 2022, contained the drug NIKETHAMIDE (Class 1 prohibited substance) and BUPIVACAINE (Class 2 prohibited substance). • Ruled that Trainer Alfred Brown was found responsible for the positive finding returned by horse. • Imposed fine on Trainer Alfred Brown, as follows: o Two hundred and Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($235,000.00) for the (Class 1 prohibited substance) NIKETHAMIDE and, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars ($230,000.00) for the (Class 2 prohibited substance) BUPIVACAINE, to be paid no later than thirty (30) days after ruling. • Disqualified LIGHTNING MCQUEEN 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.