Another fine for Nicky Henderson

Top Lambourn trainer breached British Horseracing Authority rules

TOP Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson has been warned that all the horses in his care may be subject to spot checks after another tested positive for a banned substance.

In July 2009 Mr Henderson, received a record £40,000 fine and three-month competition ban after he was found guilty of using an illegal substance, administered by a vet, on The Queen's mare, Moonlit Path.

Now the British Horseracing Authority's disciplinary panel has made a similar finding in respect of Heather Royal after the mare finished unplaced in EBF/DBS Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race on February 10 this year.

Heather Royal was found to have the prohibited drug dexamethasone in her post-race urine sample.

The result prompted Mr Henderson to ask for an elective test on Binocular, the 2010 ChampionHurdle winner, just days before his repeat bid. Binocular had been receiving treatment for a rash with the same drug and was withdrawn from the race.

Mr Henderson accepted he breached BHA rules in respect of the dexamethasone finding and in his failure to keep complete medical records.

He was fined a total of £3,000 with £500 costs.

The BHA said in a statement: “Both fines reflected that it was Henderson's second offence within the previous two years....the panel informed Henderson that all the horses in his care may be the subject of examination and the taking of samples for analysis provided for in Rule (A)49 within the next 12 months.”