RACING Victoria stewards have ordered security guards to be at Mark Riley’s stables 24 hours before Saturday’s Blue Diamond at Caulfield, reports Racing Network.
RV chairman of stewards Terry Bailey informed Riley today that a security guard would be at his Mornington stables from about 4pm on Friday to monitor his Blue Diamond runner Of The Brave.
Bailey said security for all other Blue Diamond runners would be operational from about 6am on Saturday.
“In our view Mark Riley has been found guilty of a serious charge; there are other participants to consider and we believe it is the right thing to do,” Bailey said.
Victoria’s Civil & Administrative Tribunal, chaired by its president Greg Garde, last night granted Riley a stay of proceedings pending his appeal against a three year disqualification.
The Racing Appeals & Disciplinary Board disqualified Riley for three years for administering a prohibited substance - an alkalinising agent - to his horse Gold For Kev at Sportingbet Park last year in the knowledge it may effect the horse’s behaviour or performance.
Riley pleaded not guilty.
Garde, in a late-night hearing session, granted the stay on the basis of the grounds of the serious nature revolving around the scientific testing of TCO2 levels as well as the public interest of those who had already backed Of The Brave in the Blue Diamond.
RV opposed the stay on the basis it was not in the best interests of the integrity of the racing industry that Riley’s period of disqualification be put on hold so that he could race his horse in the Blue Diamond.
Garde has ordered both parties back to VCAT on Monday for procedural matters, including setting a date for the appeal.
Riley is expected to seek an extension of his stay until the appeal is heard.