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Prior to the running of Race 3 at Scone Racecourse on Saturday, 17 May 2025, licensed stablehand Mr Vikas Kanyan prepared and led Thoroughbred horse Stardom from the tie-up stalls into the parade ring.

Shortly after the running of Race 3, Racing NSW Investigators were alerted by Racing Officials as to the strong scent of intoxicating liquor which appeared to be coming from Mr Kanyan.

At 12:15pm, Racing NSW Investigators activated their body worn camera and approached Mr Kanyan who had returned to the tie-up stalls.

Mr Kanyan was tested in accordance with Racing NSW’s drug and alcohol policy which returned a positive indication for alcohol.

At 12:54pm, a second confirmatory test returned an alcohol concentration was detected above the relevant threshold level (High Range).

At this time, Mr Kanyan was assisted by Waterhouse/Bott stable representative Mr Neil Paine.  Mr Kanyan was stood down from the remainder of his duties on 17 May 2025.

Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the breath sample provided by Mr Kanyan. A brief of evidence compiled by Investigator Matthew Johnson including body worn footage was tendered and oral evidence was taken from Mr Kanyan.

My Kanyan indicated that he consumed his last alcoholic drink at 1am before attending stablehand duties at 4am on 17 May 2025.

Stewards considered the evidence and issued a charge under AR140(1)(a) against Mr Kanyan as detailed below:

Charge issued against Mr Vikas Kanyan

Charge 1: AR140(1)(a) Offences where riders use banned substances

The details of the charge being that licensed stablehand Mr Vikas Kanyan at 12:54pm on Saturday, 17 May 2025, following the preparation and handling of Thoroughbred horse Stardom which was engaged to take part in Race 3 at Scone Racecourse, did provide a sample of his breath in which alcohol, which is a banned substance under AR137(1)(f), was detected at a concentration of above the relevant threshold level (High Range).

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into :

- Guilty plea was entered at the earliest opportunity
- Contrition shown by Mr Kanyan and his willingness to accept responsibility for the breach
- Mr Kaynan’s personal and professional circumstances
- Industry participant of over 10 years with a clean record
- The high level of alcohol concentration detected
- Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image, interests and welfare of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Charge 1: AR140(1)(a) – 4 months suspension of licence

Having regard to his guilty plea and other relevant considerations, Stewards determined that Mr Kanyan’s licence be suspended for a period of 4 months reduced to 3 months.

Mr Kanyan was advised that should he undertake an appropriate level of alcohol counselling, Stewards will vary such penalty to 2 months, to commence on 19 May 2025 and to expire on 19 July 2025.

Mr Kanyan was advised of his appeal rights.

Relevant Rules

AR 140 Offences where horse handlers use banned substances

(1) A horse handler breaches these Australian Rules if:

(a) a banned substance under AR 137(1) is detected in a sample taken from the horse handler;

or

AR 137 Banned substances in relation to horse handlers

(1) Unless otherwise stated in these Australian Rules, the following substances and/or their metabolites, artefacts and isomers are specified as banned substances in horse handlers when detected in a urine sample at a concentration above the threshold level in brackets immediately next to the identified banned substance:

(f) alcohol (at a blood alcohol concentration in excess of 0.02% on a breath analysing instrument)

- D.R. Hadley (General Manager-Investigations, Racing NSW)